DJ Turner (cornerback)
{{short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{for|the wide receiver|D. J. Turner (wide receiver)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = DJ Turner
| image = D. J. Turner (November 26, 2022).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Turner with the Michigan Wolverines in 2022
| current_team = Cincinnati Bengals
| number = 20
| position = Cornerback
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|11|9}}
| birth_place = Suwanee, Georgia, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 180
| high_school = IMG Academy {{avoid wrap|(Bradenton, Florida)}}
| college = Michigan (2019–2022)
| draftyear = 2023
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 60
| pastteams = * Cincinnati Bengals ({{NFL Year|2023}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights = * Second-team All-Big Ten (2022)
| statweek = 11
| statseason = 2024
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 79
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 1
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 1
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 = 15
| statlabel6 = Interceptions
| statvalue6 =
| pfr = TurnDJ01
| statlabel7 = Defensive Touchdowns
}}
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 for the Michigan Wolverines and was selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Early life
Turner was born on November 9, 2000, in Suwanee, Georgia.{{Cite web |last=Brugler |first=Dane |title=The Beast: 2023 NFL Draft Guide |url=https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2023/04/10111751/TheBeast_NFL_Draft_Guide-1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410190932/https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2023/04/10111751/TheBeast_NFL_Draft_Guide-1.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 10, 2022 |website=The Athletic |pages=251 }} He attended North Gwinnett High School before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, for his senior year.{{Cite web |last=Baumgardner |first=Nick |date=July 10, 2019 |title=Michigan football freshman D.J. Turner is a disciplined, fearless coverman |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2019/07/10/michigan-football-freshman-dj-turner/1687967001/ |access-date=September 3, 2023 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}} He committed to the University of Michigan to play college football.{{Cite web |date=June 25, 2018 |title=Three-star Georgia cornerback DJ Turner picks Michigan |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2018/06/25/three-star-georgia-cornerback-dj-turner-picks-michigan-wolverines/731608002/ |access-date=September 3, 2023 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Sang |first=Orion |date=June 25, 2018 |title=Michigan football adds to 2019 class with Georgia CB DJ Turner |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/2018/06/25/michigan-football-wolverines-recruiting-dj-turner/731492002/ |access-date=September 3, 2023 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}
College career
Turner appeared in eight total games his first two years at Michigan in 2019 and 2020.{{Cite web |last=Zuke |first=Ryan |date=October 26, 2021 |title=DJ Turner emerges in Michigan's secondary |url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2021/10/dj-turner-emerges-in-michigans-secondary.html |access-date=September 3, 2023 |website=mlive.com |language=en}} In 2021, he played in all 14 games and made eight starts.{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Michael |date=November 26, 2021 |title=Why Michigan football cornerback DJ Turner doesn't fear Big Ten's best wide receivers |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2021/11/26/michigan-football-defense-dj-turner-jim-harbaugh/8754764002/ |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=Detroit Free Press}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Kahn |first=Andrew |date=September 7, 2022 |title=Michigan football player gives play by play of his own touchdown |url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2022/09/michigan-football-player-gives-play-by-play-of-his-own-touchdown.html |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=mlive.com}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11 1/4
| weight = 178
| dash = 4.26
| ten split = 1.47
| twenty split = 2.32
| vertical = 38.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 11
| arm span = 30 3/4
| hand span = 9 5/8
| note = All values from the NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/dj-turner-ii/32005455-5228-3151-d0bf-492aa1a59230 |title=DJ Turner II Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=April 10, 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1052105&DraftYear=2023 |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout DJ Turner College Football Profile |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
Turner was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round, 60th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Hobson |first=Geoff |date=April 28, 2023 |title=Bengals Select Michigan CB DJ Turner II With Second-Round Pick |url=https://www.bengals.com/news/dj-turner-ii-nfl-draft-corner-back-michigan |access-date=September 2, 2023 |website=Bengals.com}}
= 2023 =
In Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals, Bengals' starting cornerback Chidobe Awuzie was ruled out with a back 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.{{Cite web |last=Santagata |first=Mike |date=2023-10-11 |title=Bengals Film Breakdown: Analyzing DJ Turner's First Career Start in Win Over Cardinals |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/allbengals-insiders-plus/bengals-film-breakdown-analyzing-dj-turner-first-career-start-win-over-cardinals |access-date=2023-10-15 |website=Sports Illustrated Cincinnati Bengals News, Analysis and More |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Heltman |first=Russ |date=2023-10-12 |title=DJ Turner II Quickly Acclimating to NFL Action: 'Helps Your Confidence' Guarding Bengals WRs |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/bengals/allbengals-insiders-plus/dj-turner-ii-quickly-acclimating-to-nfl-action-helps-your-confidence-guarding-bengals-wrs |access-date=2023-10-15 |website=Sports Illustrated Cincinnati Bengals News, Analysis and More |language=en}} He recorded his first sack in the Bengals' Week 10 contest against the Baltimore Ravens, and recovered a fumble the following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, with a 28 yard return.{{Cite web |title=Can't-Miss Play: DJ Turner II off to the races for 28-yard fumble return after Warren's miscue |url=https://www.bengals.com/video/d-j-turner-ii-highlights-28-yard-fumble-return-steelers-bengals-week-12-2023 |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=www.bengals.com |language=en-US}} Turner finished his rookie season with 50 tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery, and seven pass deflections.{{Cite web |title=DJ Turner 2023 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TurnDJ01/gamelog/2023/ |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
= 2024 =
Despite starting 12 games as a rookie, Turner was named the Bengals' second string cornerback to begin the season, backing up Daxton Hill to begin the 2024 campaign.{{Cite web|title=Bengals Roster Breakdown: Dax Hill may've finally found his calling at cornerback|url=https://atozsports.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals-news/bengals-roster-breakdown-dax-hill-2024-nfl/|access-date=August 29, 2024|website=atozsports.com|language=en}} Hill would go out with a season ending knee injury during the Bengals' Week 5 game against the Baltimore Ravens, thrusting Turner back into the starting role.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-07 |title=Bengals lose starting outside CB Hill to torn ACL |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41663540/source-bengals-lose-starting-cb-dax-hill-torn-acl |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} Turner suffered a broken clavicle in Week 11 and was placed on injured reserve on November 19.{{cite web|title=Bengals CB DJ Turner II (broken clavicle) placed on IR|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/42490640/bengals-cb-dj-turner-ii-broken-clavicle-likely-headed-ir|website=Bengals.com|date=November 19, 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.bengals.com/team/players-roster/dj-turner-ii/ Cincinnati Bengals bio]
- [https://mgoblue.com/sports/football/roster/dj-turner/23119 Michigan Wolverines bio]
{{Cincinnati Bengals roster navbox}}
{{Bengals2023DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Turner, DJ}}
Category:Players of American football from Suwanee, Georgia
Category:American football cornerbacks