DJ Turner (cornerback)
No. 20 – Cincinnati Bengals | |||||||||
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Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
Born: | Suwanee, Georgia, U.S. | November 9, 2000||||||||
Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
Weight: | 180 lb (82 kg) | ||||||||
Career information | |||||||||
High school: | IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) | ||||||||
College: | Michigan (2019–2022) | ||||||||
NFL draft: | 2023 / round: 2 / pick: 60 | ||||||||
Career history | |||||||||
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Roster status: | Active | ||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||||
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JuanDrago "DJ" Turner II (born November 9, 2000) is an American professional football cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Michigan and was selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Early life
[edit]Turner was born on November 9, 2000, in Suwanee, Georgia.[1] He attended North Gwinnett High School before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, for his senior year.[2] He committed to the University of Michigan to play college football.[3][4]
College career
[edit]Turner appeared in eight total games his first two years at Michigan in 2019 and 2020.[5] In 2021, he played in all 14 games and made eight starts.[6] He finished the year with 33 tackles, two interceptions and one touchdown. Turner returned as a starter in 2022, intercepting one pass and returning a fumble 45 yards for a touchdown.[7]
Professional career
[edit]Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Vertical jump | Broad jump | ||||
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5 ft 11+1⁄4 in (1.81 m) | 178 lb (81 kg) | 30+3⁄4 in (0.78 m) | 9+5⁄8 in (0.24 m) | 4.26 s | 1.47 s | 2.32 s | 38.5 in (0.98 m) | 10 ft 11 in (3.33 m) | ||||
All values from the NFL Combine[8] |
Turner was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round, 60th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft.[9]
In Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals, Bengals' starting cornerback Chidobe Awuzie was ruled out for injury, leading to Turner getting his first career start. Turner would finish the game with four total tackles and one pass deflection, grading the highest of all the Bengals' cornerbacks in the 34–20 win.[10][11]
Despite starting 12 games as a rookie, Daxton Hill was named a starting cornerback over Turner to begin the 2024 campaign.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ Brugler, Dane. "The Beast: 2023 NFL Draft Guide" (PDF). The Athletic. p. 251. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
- ^ Baumgardner, Nick (July 10, 2019). "Michigan football freshman D.J. Turner is a disciplined, fearless coverman". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "Three-star Georgia cornerback DJ Turner picks Michigan". The Detroit News. June 25, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ Sang, Orion (June 25, 2018). "Michigan football adds to 2019 class with Georgia CB DJ Turner". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ Zuke, Ryan (October 26, 2021). "DJ Turner emerges in Michigan's secondary". mlive.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ Cohen, Michael (November 26, 2021). "Why Michigan football cornerback DJ Turner doesn't fear Big Ten's best wide receivers". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- ^ Kahn, Andrew (September 7, 2022). "Michigan football player gives play by play of his own touchdown". mlive.com. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- ^ "DJ Turner II Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ Hobson, Geoff (April 28, 2023). "Bengals Select Michigan CB DJ Turner II With Second-Round Pick". Bengals.com. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- ^ Santagata, Mike (October 11, 2023). "Bengals Film Breakdown: Analyzing DJ Turner's First Career Start in Win Over Cardinals". Sports Illustrated Cincinnati Bengals News, Analysis and More. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
- ^ Heltman, Russ (October 12, 2023). "DJ Turner II Quickly Acclimating to NFL Action: 'Helps Your Confidence' Guarding Bengals WRs". Sports Illustrated Cincinnati Bengals News, Analysis and More. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
- ^ "Bengals Roster Breakdown: Dax Hill may've finally found his calling at cornerback". atozsports.com. Retrieved August 29, 2024.