James Turner (American football)

Last updated

James Turner
James Turner (53160182621).jpg
Turner with Michigan in 2023
Personal information
Born: (2000-11-22) November 22, 2000 (age 23)
Saline, Michigan, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:196 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school: Saline
(Saline, Michigan)
College: Louisville (2019–2022)
Michigan (2023)
Position: Kicker
Undrafted: 2024
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards

James Turner (born November 22, 2000) is an American football placekicker who is a free agent. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines and the Louisville Cardinals. He was an all-conference selection in both the ACC and Big Ten, winning a national championship with Michigan in 2023.

Contents

High school career

Turner grew up in Saline, Michigan and attended Saline High School. As a senior, he went 12 for 12 on field goal attempts and 45 for 46 on extra point attempts. He also handled kickoffs, having 36 touchbacks on the year. Turner was named a first team all-state selection by The Detroit News . [1] He committed to play college football for the Louisville Cardinals as a preferred walk on. [2] [3]

College career

Louisville Cardinals

Turner played four years at Louisville. In his freshman year he played in the final five games as the Cardinals' kickoff specialist and recorded four touchbacks. [1] Turner also played a role in Louisville's 2019 Music City Bowl, in which he recovered a fumble at the opposing 33 yard line. [4] In Turner's sophomore year, he played in 11 games, going 40 for 40 on extra point attempts and 13 for 15 on field goals. For his efforts he was named an All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) honorable mention. [5] [6] He was also named one of the 20 semifinalists for the 2020 Lou Groza Award. [7] In the 2021 season Turner started the year on the Lou Groza award watch list. [8] [9] Turner played in 12 games during the season, going 43 for 44 on his extra point attempts and 13 for 20 on field goals. [10] After the 2021 season he was awarded a scholarship. [11] Turner had his best season in 2022 in which he went 38 for 39 on extra points and 20 for 22 on field goal attempts. For his performance on the year he was named third-team All-ACC. [12] [13] In that same year on November 21, Turner was named the ACC Co-Specialist of the Week after tying a school record making four field goals in a 25–10 win over NC State [14] [15]

During his time at Louisville, Turner set multiple school records, finishing with the fourth most made field goals, the fifth most points, the fifth best field goal percentage, and the fifth most made extra points in Louisville history. [16]

Michigan Wolverines

On April 28, 2023, Turner announced via his Twitter that he transferred to the University of Michigan. [17] [18] [19] In his first season with the Wolverines, Turner was voted second-team All-Big Ten on the way to winning a national championship in 2023. He hit 18 out of 21 field goals for the season, including three that were 50 yards. Turner also set a Michigan single-season record with 65 converted point-after attempts (PATs). [20]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span
5 ft 11+78 in
(1.83 m)
190 lb
(86 kg)
30+12 in
(0.77 m)
8+38 in
(0.21 m)
All values from Pro Day [21]

Detroit Lions

On April 28, Turner signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL draft. [22] [23] He was waived on June 18, 2024. [24]

Green Bay Packers

On June 24, 2024, Turner was claimed off waivers by the Green Bay Packers. [25] On July 30, 2024, he was released. [26]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Gramatica</span> Argentine-born gridiron football player (born 1975)

Martin Gramatica is an Argentine former player of American football who was a kicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Indianapolis Colts, the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints. He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats winning the Lou Groza Award and twice earning All-American honors. He was selected by the Buccaneers in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Dawson</span> American football player (born 1975)

Philip Drury Dawson is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns and signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 1998. Dawson played for the Cleveland Browns from 1999 to 2012, and has the second-most field goals made for their franchise, passing Hall of Famer Lou Groza in 2010. Dawson also played for the San Francisco 49ers from 2013 to 2016, and for the Arizona Cardinals in 2017 and 2018. He signed a contract in 2019 to retire as a member of the Browns.

Remy Martin Hamilton is a former American football kicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) and Arena Football League (AFL). In college, he was an All-American for the Michigan Wolverines football team. As a professional, he played for the Detroit Lions of the NFL in addition to exhibition and training camp experience with the Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears. He also played for the Grand Rapids Rampage, Carolina Cobras, Milwaukee Mustangs, Los Angeles Avengers, and Dallas Desperados of the AFL. In the AFL, he holds records for all-time career points and single-season kick points.


Arthur Carmody IV is an American former football placekicker. He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Prater</span> American football player (born 1984)

Matthew Phillip Prater is an American professional football placekicker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Regarded as one of the best long distance kickers in NFL history, he held the NFL record for longest field goal from 2013 until 2021 and holds the NFL record for most 50+ yard field goals in a career, 80 as of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graham Gano</span> Scottish-born American football player (born 1987)

Graham Clark Gano is an American professional football placekicker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles and was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2009. Gano has also played for the Las Vegas Locomotives in the United Football League (UFL), the Washington Redskins and the Carolina Panthers. During his time with the Panthers, he achieved the franchise's record for longest field goal at 63 yards in 2018.

Brett Swenson is a former American football placekicker. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Michigan State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Wile</span> American football player (born 1992)

Matthew Blake Dickinson Wile is a former American football punter. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 2011 to 2014. In four years at Michigan, he had 91 punts for 3,658 yards, an average of 40.2 yards per punt. He converted 20 of 29 field goal attempts and was successful on 33 of 33 extra point attempts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roberto Aguayo</span> American football player (born 1994)

Roberto Jose Aguayo is an American former football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles, where he was the most accurate kicker in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) history and third in NCAA history. He won the Lou Groza Award in 2013. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft, unusually high for a special teams player. Despite an accomplished collegiate career at Florida State, Aguayo is considered to be among the biggest busts in recent NFL history. Aguayo served as the starting kicker for the Buccaneers for only the 2016 season. He then had stints with the Chicago Bears, the Carolina Panthers, the Los Angeles Chargers and the New England Patriots between 2017 and 2021 without seeing any regular season game action.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaʻimi Fairbairn</span> American football player (born 1994)

John Christian Kaʻiminoeauloamekaʻikeokekumupaʻa "Kaʻimi" Fairbairn is an American professional football placekicker for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). Playing college football at UCLA, he was a consensus first-team All-American as a senior, when he was also awarded the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top college kicker in 2015. After winning the kicking position as a true freshman, Fairbairn became the Pac-12 Conference record holder for the most career points scored. Undrafted out of college, he signed with Houston as a free agent and was named their starting kicker the following year in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zane Gonzalez</span> American football player (born 1995)

Holden Fortunato "Zane" Gonzalez is an American football placekicker who is a free agent. He played college football at Arizona State University and was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft. Gonzalez holds the NCAA Division I record for field goals made in a career. He was a unanimous All-American in 2016. He was awarded the Lou Groza Award in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodrigo Blankenship</span> American football player (born 1997)

Rodrigo John Blankenship, nicknamed "Hot Rod", is an American football placekicker who is a free agent. He played college football at Georgia, where he kicked the longest field goal in Rose Bowl history. Blankenship has received considerable media attention for the thick glasses that he wears during games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Joseph</span> South African American football player (born 1994)

Greg Joseph is a South African–American professional football placekicker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida Atlantic, and signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Later that year, Joseph made his NFL debut with the Cleveland Browns. He has also been a member of the Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, and Green Bay Packers.

José Borregales is a Venezuelan American football placekicker who is a free agent. He played college football at Florida International and the University of Miami.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Reichard</span> American football player (born 2001)

Will Reichard is an American professional football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he became the all-time NCAA Division I FBS scoring leader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Moody</span> American football player (born 1999)

Jake Moody is an American professional football placekicker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, twice earning All-American honors and winning the Lou Groza Award in 2021. Moody was selected by the 49ers in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft, making him only the second kicker since 2016 to be drafted in the top 100 selections.

Dominik Eberle is an American football placekicker for the Berlin Thunder of the European League of Football (ELF). He played college football for the Utah State Aggies. He made his NFL debut in Week 16 of the 2021 NFL season.

Anders Bjorn Carlson is an American professional football placekicker who is a free agent. He played college football at Auburn. As a placekicker, he has been recognized as both a high school and collegiate All-American, as well as an All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) First Team and Lou Groza Award semifinalist selection.

Christopher Dunn is an American football placekicker who is a free agent. He played college football at NC State.

Dominic Zvada is an American football kicker for the Michigan Wolverines. He previously played for the Arkansas State Red Wolves.

References

  1. 1 2 "James Turner". Louisville Athletics. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  2. "Saline 2019 K/P James Turner has committed to Louisville". The D Zone. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  3. "James Turner". ON3. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  4. Organ, Mike (December 30, 2019). "Louisville rallies to beat Mississippi State in the Music City Bowl". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  5. "2020 Louisville Cardinals Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  6. "Tigers, Irish Lead All-ACC Football Team". Atlantic Coast Conference. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  7. Wickliffe, Greg. "Louisville kicker James Turner of Saline named semifinalist for Lou Groza Award". MLive.com. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  8. "James Turner Named to Lou Groza Award Watch List". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  9. Blankbaker, Mark. "JAMES TURNER NAMED TO LOU GROZA WATCH LIST". The Crunch Zone. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  10. "2021 Louisville Cardinals Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  11. McCammon, Michael. "Louisville awards scholarship to kicker James Turner". 247Sports. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  12. "2022 Louisville Cardinals Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  13. "Clemson Leads With 12 Selection to All-ACC Football Teams". Atlantic Coast Conference. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  14. "Turner Named ACC Co-Specialist of the Week". Louisville Cardinals. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  15. "Louisville's James Turner named ACC Specialist of the Week". 247Sports. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  16. "Louisville Cardinals Kicking". Sports Reference. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  17. Pappalardo, Charlie. "Michigan lands kicker James Turner in the transfer portal". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  18. Garcia, Tony. "Michigan football adds K James Turner, Saline native, via transfer portal". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  19. Hole, Isaiah. "Michigan football bolsters special teams with transfer portal commitment". Wolverines Wire. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  20. "James Turner". University of Michigan.
  21. "2024 NFL Draft Scout James Turner College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  22. "Lions sign Michigan kicker James Turner as UDFA". The Oakland Press.
  23. Twentyman, Tim (May 10, 2024). "TWENTYMAN: A closer look at the Lions' undrafted rookie free agents". DetroitLions.
  24. "Lions Waive Kicker James Turner". All Lions. June 18, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  25. "Packers claim K James Turner off waivers from Detroit Lions". Packers.com. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  26. "Packers announce roster moves". Packers.com. July 30, 2024.