KaVontae Turpin
No. 9 – Dallas Cowboys | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Wide receiver, Return specialist | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Monroe, Louisiana, U.S. | August 2, 1996||||||
Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 153 lb (69 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | Neville | ||||||
College: | TCU (2015–2018) | ||||||
Undrafted: | 2019 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
| |||||||
Roster status: | Active | ||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
| |||||||
Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||
| |||||||
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
KaVontae Lamon Turpin[1] (born August 2, 1996) is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at TCU.
Turpin joined the second iteration of the
Early years
Turpin went to
He was a three-star recruit and no. 12 prospect from all of Louisiana.[5] On January 25, 2015, Turpin committed to TCU over another scholarship offer from Texas Tech.[6]
He also played
College career
2015 season
Turpin accepted a football scholarship from
He had 7 receptions for 107 yards and one touchdown in the ninth game against
He was second in the Big 12 and tied for 14th nationally with his 27-yard average in kickoff returns, the highest mark by a Horned Frog since
2016 season
As a sophomore, he was limited by injuries, appearing in eight games while registering 30 receptions for 295 yards and one receiving touchdown.
On September 12, he was named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week after totaling 169 return yards (33 punt, 136 kickoff), including a career-long 64-yard kickoff return with less than a minute to play in the game to put the offense in position for a potential game-winning field goal, while also tying a career-high with seven receptions for 126 yards and having a career-high best 295 all-purpose yards (136 kickoff returns, 33 punt returns, 126 receiving).[13] His 90-yard punt return for a score in the sixth game against the University of Kansas, tied for the second-longest in school history.
2017 season
As a junior, he appeared in all 14 games with three starts, registering 41 receptions for 394 yards, one receiving touchdown, and 1,202 all-purpose yards.[14] He returned a punt for a touchdown in win over the University of Kansas, returned a kickoff for a touchdown against Iowa State University and threw a touchdown in a win over West Virginia University, becoming only the fifth player in the previous 10 seasons with that stat line. He was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week against the University of Kansas for returning three punts for 95 yards and a touchdown. He was named first-team All-Big 12 kick and punt returner, a first-team AP All-Big 12 (all-purpose), honorable-mention All-Big 12 as a wide receiver and honorable-mention Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year.[5]
2018 season
As a senior, he played much of the season[15] with a warrant out for his arrest from failure to appear to a domestic violence charge in New Mexico.[16] Gary Patterson and the TCU Coaching staff were aware of the spring break arrest, but failed to investigate the matter further and claim they did not know about the outstanding warrant.[17] He was second on the team in receptions (29), receiving yards (410) and receiving touchdowns (three).[18][19] He also returned a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns, and his punt-return average of 19.4 yards per attempt tied for the FBS lead. On September 10, he was named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week, after having a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown, making it the fourth of his career and a school record.[20] On October 9, he returned a kickoff for a 98-yard touchdown against the University of Oklahoma, making it his sixth career return (four punts, two kickoffs) for a touchdown, which was also a school record.
Domestic violence charges
On October 23, he was dismissed from the team for two domestic violence charges.[21] At the time, he was leading the nation by averaging almost 20 yards per punt return. He finished his college career as arguably the school's greatest returner: His four punt returns for a touchdown and six career special teams touchdowns were the most in TCU history.[5]
College statistics
Legend | |
---|---|
Bold | Career high |
Season | GP | Receiving | Rushing | Kick returns | Punt returns | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
2015 | 13 | 45 | 649 | 14.4 | 8 | 20 | 116 | 5.8 | 0 | 27 | 729 | 27.0 | 0 | 17 | 181 | 10.6 | 1 |
2016 | 8 | 30 | 295 | 9.8 | 1 | 9 | 84 | 9.3 | 0 | 17 | 482 | 28.4 | 0 | 10 | 125 | 12.5 | 1 |
2017 | 14 | 41 | 394 | 9.6 | 1 | 11 | 86 | 7.8 | 2 | 15 | 462 | 30.8 | 1 | 16 | 260 | 16.3 | 1 |
2018 | 7 | 29 | 410 | 14.1 | 3 | 4 | 32 | 8.0 | 0 | 12 | 312 | 26.0 | 1 | 9 | 175 | 19.4 | 1 |
Career | 42 | 145 | 1,748 | 12.1 | 13 | 44 | 318 | 7.2 | 2 | 71 | 1,985 | 28.0 | 2 | 52 | 741 | 14.3 | 4 |
College accolades
Awards and honors
- National
- All-American– Kick & Punt Returner (2017)
- FWAA Freshman All-American – Kick Returner (2015)
- 247Sports.comTrue Freshman All-American – All-Purpose (2015)
- Big 12 Conference
- 2× Honorable-Mention Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year (2016, 2017)
- Honorable-Mention Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (2015)
- First-Team Big 12– All-Purpose (2017)
- First-Team ESPN All-Big 12 – Punt Returner (2015)
- First-Team All-Big 12 – Kick & Punt Returner (2017)
- 2× Honorable Mention All-Big 12 – Return Specialist (2015, 2016)
- Honorable Mention All-Big 12 – Wide Receiver (2017)
- Preseason All-Big 12 – Return Specialist (2017)
- Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week (1× 2015)
- Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week (2× 2016, 1× 2017)
Records
- Big 12 Conference
- 1st – Average yards per punt return (Big 12 Championship Game): 50.2
- 1st – Receiving touchdowns (freshman game): 4
- 4th – Average yards per kick return (career): 20.8
- 5th – Average yards per punt return (career): 14.3
- 6th – Punt return touchdowns (career): 4 (tied, Phillip Brooks)
- Texas Christian University
- 9th – Most receiving touchdowns (career): 13
- 7th – Most receiving touchdowns (season): 8 (2015)
- 1st – Highest average yards per reception (game): 86.0 (2015)
- 2nd – Most punt return touchdowns (career): 4
- 4th – Highest average yards per punt return (career): 14.2
- 2nd – Highest average yards per punt return (game): 41.0 (2016)
- 1st – Kick returns (career): 71 (tied, Cory Rodgers)
- 1st – Kick return yards (career): 1,985
- 1st – Combined kick and punt return yards (career): 2,726
- 1st – Combined kick and punt return touchdowns (career): 6 (tied, Derius Davis)
- 1st – Receptions (freshman season): 45
- 1st – Receiving yards (freshman season): 649
- 1st – Receiving touchdowns (freshman season): 8
Professional career
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle |
Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 ft 8+7⁄8 in (1.75 m) |
158 lb (72 kg) |
29+5⁄8 in (0.75 m) |
7+3⁄4 in (0.20 m) |
4.31 s | 1.65 s | 2.61 s | 4.25 s | 6.65 s | 40.0 in (1.02 m) |
10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) |
2 reps | |
All values from Pro Day[22]
|
Frisco Fighters
In 2019, he was ruled ineligible to participate in TCU's
FCF Glacier Boyz
Turpin joined the
The Spring League
In 2021, he signed with the Sea Lions of The Spring League (TSL). He appeared in 6 games and was tied for second in the league with 3 receiving touchdowns.
Panthers Wrocław
In August 2021 season, the Panthers Wrocław of the European League of Football (ELF) based in Poland, signed him mid-season as a replacement for injured running back Mark Herndon.[25] There he won 3 out of 4 regular season games with an important win over the Hamburg Sea Devils, where he registered 293 yards of total offense and two touchdowns. He finished the regular season with 702 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns. In the semi-final on the road, Turpin and the Panthers lost 27 to 30 in a close game against the Sea Devils. On November 2, the franchise re-signed him for the 2022 season, but he instead opted to be eligible for the draft of the newly founded USFL.[26]
New Jersey Generals
Turpin was selected by the New Jersey Generals in the 13th round (103rd overall) of the 2022 USFL draft. He appeared in 10 games (seven starts), making 44 receptions (2nd) for 540 yards (1st), four receiving touchdowns (2nd), 23 carries for 129 yards, one rushing touchdown, 921 all-purpose yards (4th), 12 punt returns (3rd) for 184 yards (1st), and a touchdown (1st). He was named the league's Most Valuable Player of the inaugural USFL season.[27]
Dallas Cowboys
On July 27, 2022, Turpin signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL.[28] On August 20, 2022, in the second pre-season game played at SoFi Stadium against the Los Angeles Chargers, Turpin scored two touchdowns: the first on a 98-yard kickoff return in the first quarter and the second on an 86-yard punt return in the second quarter, thus paving the way for a 32–18 Cowboys victory. Turpin also added one rush attempt for seven yards during the game.[29] Turpin was active for all 17 games during the regular season and both games during the postseason. He finished the regular season with one catch for nine yards, three rush attempts for 17 yards, and 508 kick return yards as well as 303 punt return yards.[30] On December 21, 2022, Turpin was named to the Pro Bowl.[31] In the postseason, Turpin added one catch for eight yards, 155 kick return yards, and seven punt return yards to those totals.[32][33]
On September 10, 2023, Turpin scored his first NFL touchdown against the New York Giants where he rushed for seven yards. The Cowboys won the game 40–0.[34]
Professional statistics
Legend | |
---|---|
Led the league | |
Bold | Career best |
FCF
- Regular season
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Kickoff returns | Punt returns | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
2021 | GLA
|
4 | 4 | 11 | 197 | 17.9 | 4 | — | — | — | |||||||||
FCF career | 4 | 4 | 11 | 197 | 17.9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
TSL
- Regular season
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Kickoff returns | Punt returns | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
2021 | SL | 6 | 6 | 17 | 240 | 14.1 | 3 | — | — | — | |||||||||
TSL career | 6 | 6 | 17 | 240 | 14.1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
ELF
- Regular season
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Kickoff returns | Punt returns | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
2021 |
PAN | 4 | 4 | 22 | 253 | 11.5 | 4 | 7 | 47 | 6.7 | 1 | 6 | 160 | 26.7 | 0 | 4 | 72 | 18.0 | 0 |
ELF career | 4 | 4 | 22 | 253 | 11.5 | 4 | 7 | 47 | 6.7 | 1 | 6 | 160 | 26.7 | 0 | 4 | 72 | 18.0 | 0 |
- Postseason
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Kickoff returns | Punt returns | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
2021 |
PAN | 1 | 1 | 10 | 121 | 12.1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 0 | 1 | 42 | 42.0 | 0 | — | |||
ELF career | 1 | 1 | 10 | 121 | 12.1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 0 | 1 | 42 | 42.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
USFL
- Regular season
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Kickoff returns | Punt returns | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
2022 | NJG | 10 | 7 | 44 | 540 | 12.3 | 4 | 23 | 129 | 5.6 | 1 | 3 | 68 | 22.7 | 0 | 12 | 184 | 15.3 | 1 |
USFL career | 10 | 7 | 44 | 540 | 12.3 | 4 | 23 | 129 | 5.6 | 1 | 3 | 68 | 22.7 | 0 | 12 | 184 | 15.3 | 1 |
- Postseason
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Kickoff returns | Punt returns | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
2022 | NJG | 1 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 6.7 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 0 | — | 1 | 78 | 78.0 | 1 | |||
USFL career | 1 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 6.7 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 78 | 78.0 | 1 |
NFL
- Regular season
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Kick returns | Punt returns | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
2022 | DAL | 17 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 5.7 | 0 | 21 | 508 | 24.2 | 0 | 29 | 303 | 10.4 | 0 |
2023 | DAL | 16 | 0 | 12 | 127 | 10.6 | 3 | 11 | 110 | 10.0 | 1 | 10 | 292 | 29.2 | 0 | 13 | 79 | 6.1 | 0 |
NFL career | 33 | 0 | 13 | 136 | 10.5 | 3 | 14 | 127 | 9.1 | 1 | 31 | 800 | 35.8 | 0 | 42 | 382 | 9.1 | 0 |
- Postseason
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Kick returns | Punt returns | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
2022 | DAL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 5 | 155 | 31.0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 0 |
2023 | DAL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 5 | 127 | 25.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
NFL career | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 10 | 282 | 28.2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 0 |
Personal life
KaVontae Turpin welcomed his daughter Kaori Thomas-Turpin on July 27, 2023, with his girlfriend Khyjian Thomas.
Domestic violence charges
In 2019, Turpin pleaded guilty in a second family violence case against his former girlfriend which occurred in October 2018. He was cut from the TCU football program by Gary Patterson shortly after he was informed of this second battery charge against him.[35] Despite Patterson and the TCU Coaching staff knowing about his previous assault, he was allowed to continue to play throughout the 2018 season until he committed the second offense against the same woman.[17] As part of his plea agreement, he served two years deferred adjudication probation and completed a 27-week Partner Abuse Intervention Program.[36]
Notes
- ^ Selected as a return specialist
- ^ Selected as a wide receiver and punt returner
- ^ Selected as a kick returner
- ^ Selected as a kick returner and punt returner
References
- ^ "TCU standout WR/KR KaVontae Turpin arrested for alleged assault of a family member". SB Nation. October 22, 2018.
- ^ Clinton, Bryan (June 22, 2022). "Former TCU WR KaVontae Turpin Wins USFL MVP". Heartland College Sports. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ Hunsucker, Adam (December 24, 2014). "Neville's Turpin no longer Louisiana's best kept secret". The News-Star. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ Demirdjian, Chris (December 22, 2022). "Neville High School alum, Cowboys star, KaVontae Turpin makes NFL Pro Bowl". KTVE. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ a b c "KaVontae Turpin". TCU Horned Frogs Athletics. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ "KaVontae Turpin – Football – TCU Athletics". 247sports.com. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ "Turpin Named Big 12 Player of the Week". TCU Horned Frogs Athletics. October 5, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "Texas Christian at Oklahoma State Box Score, November 7, 2015". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "KaVontae Turpin 2015 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "Turpin Named Freshman All-American". TCU Horned Frogs Athletics. January 11, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ "KaVontae Turpin 2016 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "Hill and Turpin Receive Big 12 Honors". TCU Horned Frogs Athletics. September 6, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ "Turpin Repeats on Big 12 Weekly Honor". TCU Horned Frogs Athletics. September 12, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ "KaVontae Turpin 2017 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "2018 Football Schedule". University of Texas Athletics. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ Vaglio, Robbie; Post, Colin (October 22, 2018). "UPDATE: Turpin was arrested in March for assault of a family member". TCU360.com. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
- ^ a b Vaglio, Robbie (October 23, 2018). "UPDATE: TCU should have known about Turpin's New Mexico battery charge". TCU360.com. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
- ^ "2018 TCU Horned Frogs Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "KaVontae Turpin 2018 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "Turpin Named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week". TCU Horned Frogs Athletics. September 10, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ "TCU WR Turpin dismissed from team". Sports Illustrated. October 23, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "2019 Draft Scout Kavontae Turpin, Texas Christian NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ Davison, Drew (March 29, 2019). "TCU football: Inside KaVontae Turpin's personal pro day". Star-Telegram.com. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ Knox, Kristopher (February 12, 2021). "FCF 2021 Week 1 Rosters, Schedule, Live Stream and Format". BleacherReport.com. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
- ^ Malchow, Alex (August 9, 2021). "ELF: Wroclaw Panthers add WR/KR KaVontae Turpin". AmericanFootballInternational.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ Malchow, Alex (November 2, 2021). "ELF: Wroclaw Panthers re-sign WR/KR Kavontae Turpin". AmericanFootballInternational.com. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ "USFL Awards 2022: Generals WR Kavontae Turpin Named MVP". FOX Sports. June 22, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ Fisher, Mike (July 27, 2022). "Cowboys EXCLUSIVE: Dallas to Sign USFL MVP KaVontae Turpin – Sources". SI.com. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
- ^ "Turpin Time: Rookie Returner Dominates Chargers". Dallas Cowboys. August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ "KaVontae Turpin 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/when-jerry-jones-told-kavontae-turpin-he-made-the-pro-bowl-turpin-feared-he-was-getting-cut
- ^ "Wild Card – Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – January 16th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "Divisional Round – Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers – January 22nd, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/dallas-cowboys-kavontae-turpin-touchdown-new-york-giants-week-1-offense-reacts
- NBCDFW.com. April 29, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ Williams, Charean (July 28, 2022). "Cowboys sign USFL MVP KaVontae Turpin, cut Nick Ralston". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 3, 2023.