Calvin Turner
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1999)}}
{{distinguish|Cal Turner|Cal Turner Jr.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| embed =
| name = Calvin Turner
| image = 2024, 84, Calvin Turner.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Turner with the San Antonio Brahmas in 2024
| current_team = Toronto Argonauts
| number =
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|07|05}}
| birth_place = Savannah, Georgia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 198
| high_school = New Hampstead (GA)
| college = {{plainlist|
- Jacksonville (2017–2019)
- Hawaii (2020–2021)
}}
| undraftedyear = 2022
| pastteams =
- San Antonio Brahmas ({{XFL Year|2023}}–{{UFL Year|2024}})
- Toronto Argonauts ({{CFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status =
| highlights =
- 2× Second-team All-Mountain West (2020, 2021)
- First-team All-Pioneer Football League (2019)
| statlabel1 =
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 =
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 =
| statvalue3 =
| cfl = calvin-turner-jr/165988/
}}
Calvin Turner Jr. (born July 5, 1999) is an American professional football running back and wide receiver for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Jacksonville University until the program shut down in 2019 and University of Hawaii from 2020 to 2021. Turner took snaps at defensive back, quarterback, running back, and wide receiver during his college career.
Early life
Turner attended New Hampstead High School in Bloomingdale, Georgia, where he was a four-sport athlete, playing football, basketball, baseball, as well as running track.{{cite web |title=#BowsStories: Calvin Turner |url=https://hawaiiathletics.com/news/2020/12/20/football-q-a-calvin-turner.aspx |website=University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics |access-date=11 March 2021}} As a high school senior, he was a dual-threat quarterback who rushed for over 1,700 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also passing for 1,450 yards and 10 touchdowns en route to being named the Savannah Morning News' Most Versatile Male Athlete in 2017.{{cite web |title=2017 MOST VERSATILE MALE ATHLETE: Calvin Turner, New Hampstead |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/news/sports/high-school/2017-05-05/2017-most-versatile-male-athlete-calvin-turner-new-hampstead |website=Savannah Morning News |access-date=11 March 2021}}
College career
= Jacksonville =
As a true freshman, Turner's coaches transitioned him to a defensive back and return specialist to get him playing time. Turner led the team in total pass breakups, was fifth on the team in tackles, and garnered an All-Pioneer Football League honorable mention after the season.{{cite web |title=Calvin Turner Jr., in a rush to history for Jacksonville University |url=https://www.jacksonville.com/sports/20181107/calvin-turner-jr-in-rush-to-history-for-jacksonville-university |website=Florida Times-Union |access-date=11 March 2021}}{{cite web |title=Five-Time first-team pick Searles leads 25th Annual All-PFL Teams |url=http://www.pioneer-football.org/news/archives/2017/1350/five-time-first-team-pick-searles-leads-25th-annual-all-pfl-teams/ |website=Pioneer Football League |access-date=11 March 2021}}
Turner transitioned back to quarterback before the 2018 season, and was named the starting quarterback. In an option offense, he set program records in single-season rushing touchdowns and was 36 yards away from breaking the single-season rushing yards record before he broke his leg in the season finale against Dayton.{{cite web |title=Calvin Turner Jr. has put devastating 2018 injury behind him |url=https://www.jacksonville.com/sports/20191004/calvin-turner-jr-has-put-devastating-2018-injury-behind-him |website=Florida Times-Union |access-date=11 March 2021}} He was named an honorable mention to the All-Pioneer Football League at the end of the season.{{cite web |title=Four-Time First-Team selections Christian and Smith Highlight 26th All-PFL Teams |url=http://www.pioneer-football.org/news/archives/2018/1453/four-time-first-team-selections-christian-and-smith-highlight-26th-all-pfl-teams/ |website=Pioneer Football League |access-date=11 March 2021}}
Turner rushed for over 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2019 while also being named to the All-Pioneer Football League First Team as an all-purpose player.{{cite web |title=Seven Repeat First-Team selections Lead 27th All-PFL Teams |url=http://www.pioneer-football.org/news/archives/2019/1562/seven-repeat-first-team-selections-lead-27th-all-pfl-teams/ |website=Pioneer Football League |access-date=11 March 2021}}
When the program folded in 2019, Turner announced he would transfer to Hawaii for his final season of eligibility.{{cite web |title=Former New Hampstead star Turner transferring to Hawaii |url=https://www.wtoc.com/2019/12/17/former-new-hampstead-star-turner-transferring-hawaii/ |website=WTOC |access-date=11 March 2021}}
= Hawaii =
As a quarterback in an option offense at Jacksonville, Turner transitioned into a running back at Hawaii, later seeing time at wide receiver as well as fielding kicks. In his debut with the Rainbow Warriors, Turner scored two touchdowns on eight carries for 61 yards against Fresno State.{{cite web |title=Calvin Turner Jr shows dynamic play making ability in opener vs Fresno State |url=https://www.khon2.com/gobows/calvin-turner-jr-shows-dynamic-play-making-ability-in-opener-vs-fresno-state/ |website=KHON2 |access-date=11 March 2021}} He also had a three-touchdown performance in a loss against Boise State, which put him as the team leader in total touchdowns with seven.{{cite web |title=Postgame Notes: Calvin Turner Jr. scores three touchdowns, twice on two-point conversions in loss to Boise State |url=https://www.khon2.com/sports/postgame-notes-calvin-turner-jr-scores-three-touchdowns-twice-on-two-point-conversions-in-loss-to-boise-state/ |website=KHON2 |access-date=11 March 2021}}
In the Rainbow Warriors' bowl game against Houston in the New Mexico Bowl, Turner had 252 all-purpose yards highlighted by a 75-yard touchdown reception and a New Mexico Bowl record 92-yard kickoff return in the victory.{{cite web |title=Calvin Turner delivers house call in Hawaii football team’s win over Houston in New Mexico Bowl |url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/12/25/sports/calvin-turner-delivers-house-call-in-hawaii-football-teams-win-over-houston-in-new-mexico-bowl/ |website=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |access-date=11 March 2021}}{{cite web |title=Hawaii beats Houston 28-14 in New Mexico Bowl -- in Texas |url=https://apnews.com/article/college-football-houston-todd-graham-football-hawaii-4908b77e47d1ccab4202f93345532d13 |website=Associated Press |access-date=11 March 2021}} Turner was named the game's most outstanding player on offense for his efforts.{{Cite tweet|number=1342264690282438657|user=NMBowl|title=. @HawaiiFootball 's Calvin Turner was selected as the 2020 New Mexico Bowl Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the game. Congratulations!|author=New Mexico Bowl}}
Turner was named to the All-Mountain West second team at the end of the season as a wide receiver and was also named an honorable mention All-American by Phil Steele.{{cite web |title=Darius Muasau among seven ‘Bows to get All-Mountain West honors |url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/12/15/darius-muasau-among-seven-bows-get-all-mountain-west-honors/ |website=Hawaii News Now |access-date=11 March 2021}}{{cite web |title=Phil Steele's 2020 Postseason All American and All Conference Teams |url=https://philsteele.com/2021/01/07/phil-steeles-2020-postseason-all-american-and-all-conference-teams/ |website=Phil Steele |access-date=11 March 2021 |archive-date=10 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410143630/https://philsteele.com/2021/01/07/phil-steeles-2020-postseason-all-american-and-all-conference-teams/ |url-status=dead }}
With the NCAA approving a waiver that allowed their 2020 class standing to be retained in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Turner announced he would return to Hawaii for the 2021 season rather than entering his name in the upcoming NFL draft.{{cite web |title=Hawaii football team’s top playmaker, Calvin Turner, says he’ll return for the 2021 season |url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/01/02/sports/sports-breaking/hawaii-football-teams-top-playmaker-calvin-turner-says-hell-return-for-the-2021-season/ |website=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |access-date=11 March 2021}}
Professional career
=San Antonio Brahmas=
On November 17, 2022, Turner was drafted by the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-18 |title=Rosters for all eight XFL teams: Full draft results and where Vic Beasley, Martavis Bryant landed |url=https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/35053464/xfl-draft-results-2023-full-rosters-eight-teams-vic-beasley-martavis-bryant-picks |access-date=2022-12-30 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} He was activated from the team's reserve list on March 21, 2023, and placed on the list again on March 31.{{cite web |title=XFL Transactions |url=https://www.xfl.com/xfl-transactions |website=XFL.com |access-date=April 1, 2023}} He re-signed with the team on December 18, 2023. He was waived on March 22, 2024.{{cite news |title=San Antonio Brahmas Announce 50-Man Roster |url=https://uflboard.com/news/san-antonio-brahmas-announce-50-man-roster/ |website=UFLBoard.com |date=March 22, 2024 |access-date=March 23, 2024}} He was re-signed on April 10, 2024.{{cite tweet |number=1778265524473925675 |user=UFL_PR |title=The United Football League has announced the following transactions: |date=April 10, 2024 |access-date=April 11, 2024}} He was waived on August 23, 2024.{{cite tweet |user=UFL_PR |title=The #UFL has announced the following transactions |number=1827118631081365733 |date=August 23, 2024 |access-date=August 24, 2024}}
=Toronto Argonauts=
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Twitter|_ctjr}}
- [https://www.argonauts.ca/players/calvin-turner-jr/1688131231/ Toronto Argonauts profile]
- [https://hawaiiathletics.com/sports/football/roster/calvin-turner/18880 Hawaii profile]
- [https://judolphins.com/sports/football/roster/calvin-turner-jr-/3335 Jacksonville profile]
{{Toronto Argonauts roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Turner, Calvin}}
Category:Players of American football from Savannah, Georgia
Category:Players of Canadian football from Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:American football defensive backs
Category:American football running backs
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:American football return specialists
Category:Canadian football wide receivers
Category:Jacksonville Dolphins football players
Category:Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football players