Michael Turk

{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Michael Turk

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| current_team = Free agent

| number =

| position = Punter

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|3|14}}

| birth_place = Davie, Florida, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lb = 231

| high_school = Ridge Point
(Sienna, Texas)

| college = Lafayette (2017)
Arizona State (2018–2020)
Oklahoma (2021–2023)

| undraftedyear = 2023

| pastteams =

| status =

| highlights =

| pfr = TurkMi01

}}

Michael Matthew-Paul Turk{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvfxquUtaDc&t=351s|title=D1 Athlete Day in the Life: Oklahoma Football Player|website=youtube.com|date=February 8, 2022 |access-date=February 8, 2022}} (born March 14, 1998) is an American professional football punter who is a free agent. He played college football for the Lafayette Leopards, Oklahoma Sooners, and Arizona State Sun Devils. Despite declaring for the 2020 NFL draft, he would regain two years of eligibility after not being selected and not being signed following the draft. After playing for two years at Oklahoma, he declared for the 2023 NFL draft and signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent, before being waived prior to the pre-season.

{{Infobox YouTube personality

| name = Hangtime

| logo = Hangtime Logo.webp

| spouse = {{marriage|Grace Turk|2023}}

| channel_handle = Hangtime37

| channel_display_name = Hangtime

| channel_display_name2 = HangOn

| channel_handle2 = HangOn7

| channel_display_name3 = michaelturk9175

| channel_handle3 = michaelturk9175

| years_active = 2020–present

| genre = Sports

| subscribers = 2 million

| views = 272.66 million

| associated_acts = Grace Turk, Dude Perfect, Ryan Trahan, Nick DiGiovanni

| silver_button = yes

| silver_year =

| gold_button = yes

| gold_year = 2024

| stats_update = March 2, 2025

}}

Early years

Turk attended Ridge Point High School, where he played safety, contributing to the school winning the 6A Region Championship in 2014 and 2015. In less than three years, Turk suffered three ACL tears, which hampered his ability to become a safety at the next level.{{Cite web |title=Keeping the Faith: Michael Turk's unlikely return to Tempe |url=https://arizonastate.rivals.com/news/keeping-the-faith-michael-turk-s-unlikely-return-to-tempe |access-date=June 13, 2021 |website=arizonastate.rivals.com|date=October 12, 2020 }}

After graduating, he took a year off to train with his brother, Ben Turk, a former punter for Notre Dame, during which he decided that he wanted to become a punter.

College career

= Lafayette =

Turk accepted a football scholarship from Lafayette College. As a true freshman in 2017, where he registered over 2,800 punting yards and setting a school single-season record with an average of 42.7 yards per attempt. He received second-team All-Patriot League honors.{{Cite web |title=2017 All-Patriot League Football Teams and Major Awards Announced |url=https://patriotleague.org/news/2017/11/21/2017-all-patriot-league-football-teams-and-major-awards-announced.aspx?path=football |access-date=March 4, 2023|website=patriotleague.org| date=21 November 2017 }}

= Arizona State =

In 2018 after Turk's freshman season, he transferred to Arizona State University and was redshirted to comply with the NCAA transfer rules.

As a sophomore in 2019, against Kent State University, Turk recorded punts of 64, 62, 65, 49 and 75 yards, setting an NCAA single-game record with a 63.0-yard average per attempt.{{cite news| url=https://247sports.com/college/arizona-state/Article/Michael-Turk-ASU-football-punter-Matt-Haack-Ray-Guy-Award-Sun-Devils--135162972/ | title=Turk 'staying humble' after earning Pac-12 honor in ASU debut | access-date=October 20, 2019}}{{dead link|date=April 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} He earned honorable-mention All-American honors from GPR Analytics while ranking fourth in the nation with a 95.80 GPR Punt Rating.{{Cite web|url=https://gprpuntrating.wixsite.com/gpr2018|title=GPR Analytics|website=Gpr2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926220328/https://gprpuntrating.wixsite.com/gpr2018|archive-date=September 26, 2019|access-date=January 27, 2020}}

On January 6, 2020, he opted to declare for the 2020 NFL draft.{{Cite web |date=January 7, 2020 |title=ASU punter Michael Turk will declare for the 2020 NFL Draft |url=https://arizonasports.com/story/2215017/asu-punter-michael-turk-will-declare-for-the-2020-nfl-draft/ |access-date=June 13, 2021 |website=arizonasports.com}} On June 3, 2020, after failing to be selected by a team, in an unprecedented decision, the NCAA restored Turk's remaining two years of eligibility and allowed him to return to Arizona State.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29264277/arizona-state-punter-michael-turk-ncaa-eligibility-restored-going-undrafted-unsigned-nfl|title=Arizona State punter Michael Turk has NCAA eligibility restored after going undrafted, unsigned by NFL|date=June 4, 2020|website=ESPN|access-date=October 21, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2020/06/03/michael-turk-return-asu-football-after-special-ncaa-waiver/3139267001/|title=Michael Turk to return to ASU football after special NCAA waiver|website=azcentral.com|access-date=June 13, 2021}}

As a junior in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Arizona State only played 4 contests during the season.{{cite web|last1=Bromberg|first1=Nick|title=Pac-12 follows Big Ten's lead and won't play non-conference games in 2020|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/pac-12-follows-big-tens-lead-and-wont-play-nonconference-games-in-2020-224542971.html|website=Yahoo News|date=10 July 2020|access-date=July 2, 2021}} He registered a career-high 47.2-yard average on 14 punts and received first-team All-Pac-12 honors.

On August 5, 2021, Turk entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal, in part due to his opposition to Arizona State requiring the COVID-19 vaccine to travel to road games.{{Cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/arizona-state/Article/Arizona-State-football-punter-Michael-Turk-enters-transfer-portal-168770866/|title=Star Arizona State punter Michael Turk enters transfer portal|last=Hummer|first=Chris|website=247Sports|access-date=August 12, 2021}} On August 12, he announced that he would be transferring to the University of Oklahoma.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oudaily.com/sports/ou-football-former-arizona-state-punter-michael-turk-announces-transfer-to-sooners/article_e77fb032-fbe5-11eb-9276-87f5c47c711a.html|title=OU football: Former Arizona State punter Michael Turk announces transfer to Sooners|last=Young|first=Mason|website=OU Daily|date=12 August 2021 |access-date=August 12, 2021}}

= Oklahoma =

As a senior in 2021, he appeared in 11 games, averaging 51.2 yards on 35 punts, with 16 punts downed inside 20-yard line. His 51.2-yard average would have ranked second nationally, but he did not have enough attempts to qualify. He received All-Big 12 honors. He had 20 punts that went over 50 yards and 8 that went over 60 yards. The team did not punt against Tulane University and Kansas State University. He had an 85-yard punt (tied for third in school history) and averaged 58 yards on three punts against the University of Texas.

As a super senior in 2022, he appeared in all 13 games, averaging 46.8 yards (ranked third nationally) on 63 punts, with 22 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He received All-Big 12 honors. He had 22 punts that went over 50 yards and 6 that went at least 60 yards. He also completed two passes on fake field goals plays, which included a 3-yarder for a first down against the University of Texas and a 2-yarder for a touchdown against Iowa State University. He averaged 49.3 yards on 6 punts, including two critical punts of at least 60 yards in the fourth quarter against Iowa State University, earning Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Professional career

=2020 NFL Combine=

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 0 1/2

| weight = 226

| dash = 4.79

| ten split = 1.68

| twenty split = 2.78

| shuttle = 4.72

| vertical = 34.5

| broad ft = 9

| broad in = 0

| bench = 25

| arm span = 31 1/8

| hand span = 9 7/8

| wonderlic =

| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/michael-turk/32005455-5206-5453-d33e-d486b96be9fa |title=Michael Turk Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=June 13, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1021976&DraftYear=2022 |title=Michael Turk, Arizona State, P, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=DraftScout.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625013512/https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1021976&DraftYear=2022 |access-date=June 13, 2021 |archive-date=June 25, 2021}}

}}

On February 27, 2020, Turk set an NFL Scouting Combine record for punters, with 25 bench press repetitions of 225 pounds.{{Cite web |title=Michael Turk back, ready to punt for ASU after leaving for NFL draft |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2020/10/21/michael-turk-came-asu-punted-left-nfl-draft-yet-now-hes-back/5994820002/ |access-date=October 21, 2020 |website=azcentral}} Of those who participated, Turk's total bench reps were more than all 33 wide receivers, 12 out of 13 tight ends, with Josiah Deguara tying him, and 19 offensive lineman out of 34. His bench reps also tied for second among special teams participants since 2006.{{Cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/punter-michael-turk-shows-up-tight-ends-at-nfl-combine-with-stunning-bench-press-performance-024516608.html |title=NFL combine: Punter Michael Turk shows up TEs, WRs in bench press |website=sports.yahoo.com |date=28 February 2020 |access-date=June 13, 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://arizonasports.com/story/2274776/asu-punter-turk-benches-more-at-nfl-combine-than-cardinals-jones/ |title=ASU punter Michael Turk puts up 25 bench reps at NFL Draft Combine |website=arizonasports.com |date=February 27, 2020 |access-date=June 13, 2021}}

=2023 NFL Combine=

On March 3, 2023, Turk competed in his second NFL Combine in preparation for the 2023 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=World |first=Eric Bailey Tulsa |title=OU's Michael Turk gains a rare 'second' NFL Scouting Combine invite |url=https://tulsaworld.com/sports/college/ou/ous-michael-turk-gains-a-rare-second-nfl-scouting-combine-invite/article_ad214e5e-a7e3-11ed-92b8-ff6990f05ea9.html |access-date=March 4, 2023|website=Tulsa World|date=8 February 2023 }}

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 0 1/4

| weight = 227

| dash = 4.83

| ten split = 1.65

| twenty split = 2.75

| vertical = 34

| broad ft = 9

| broad in = 1

| arm span = 30 1/2

| hand span = 10 1/8

| wonderlic =

| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web|title=Michael Turk Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/michael-turk/32005455-5206-5453-d33e-d486b96be9fa |access-date=March 4, 2023 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=Michael Turk - P - Oklahoma - 2023 Draft Scout/NCAA College Football |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1021976&DraftYear=2023 |access-date=March 4, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}

}}

=Miami Dolphins=

After going undrafted, Turk signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2023.{{cite web|title=Miami Dolphins Sign 21 Undrafted College Free Agents|url=https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/miami-dolphins-sign-21-undrafted-college-free-agents|website=MiamiDolphins.com|date=May 12, 2023}} He was waived by the team in favor of Jake Bailey on August 2.{{cite web|title=Dolphins waive two players, sign another|url=https://www.thephinsider.com/2023/8/2/23818079/miami-dolphins-waive-two-players-sign-another-myles-dorn-michael-turk-bennett-williams|website=SBNation.com|date=August 2, 2023}}

In November 2023, Turk worked out with the New England Patriots.{{Cite web |last=Buchmasser |first=Bernd |date=2023-11-29 |title=Patriots invite 13 players for workouts, including several kickers |url=https://www.patspulpit.com/2023/11/29/23980730/patriots-special-teams-workouts-kicker-chad-ryland |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=Pats Pulpit |language=en}} Turk was not signed.

Personal life

Turk's uncles are former NFL punter Matt Turk and former NFL long snapper Dan Turk.{{cite news| url=https://www.sports360az.com/2019/09/meet-michael-turk-asu-footballs-new-fan-favorite/ | title=Meet Michael Turk: ASU Football's New Fan Favorite | access-date=October 20, 2019}} Turk has a YouTube channel called Hangtime, where he uploads videos about his experience playing for Oklahoma, fitness, and his Baptist faith, often mentioning some of his favorite Bible verses.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/@Hangtime37|title=Hangtime - YouTube |website=YouTube.com|access-date=June 13, 2021}} As of March 2, 2025, he has over 1,900,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel.

On November 19, 2022, he proposed to his now wife, Oklahoma Sooners softball All-American Grace Lyons, on the field following the Bedlam football game. The couple got married on June 23, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/oklahoma/football/all-american-couple-oklahoma-p-michael-turks-marriage-proposal-to-ss-grace-lyons-goes-viral|title=All-American Couple: Oklahoma P Michael Turk's Marriage Proposal to SS Grace Lyons Goes Viral|website=SI.com|first=John E.|last=Hoover|date=November 20, 2022|access-date=May 13, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.oudaily.com/sports/ou-football-sooners-michael-turk-proposes-to-grace-lyons-drake-stoops-posts-career-night/article_e2564392-6902-11ed-a495-8b4a1f4ff66c.html|title=OU football: Sooners' Michael Turk proposes to Grace Lyons; Drake Stoops posts career night|newspaper=The Oklahoma Daily|first=Bob|last=Nguyen|date=November 20, 2022|access-date=May 13, 2023}} They have one child.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dDlzPDjzwQ |title=I Built A Secret Man-Cave In My House |date=2024-11-09 |last=Hangtime |access-date=2024-11-10 |via=YouTube}}

References

{{Reflist}}