KaVontae Turpin—everyone’s favorite small-school phenom—has been electrifying the NFL preseason! His goosebump inducing performance in week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers featured a jaw dropping 2 touchdown return. His high-flying style of play is beginning to make even more waves. The league’s new kickoff rules were designed to make the play safer and the overall game more exciting, providing Turpin an opportunity to really show off what he can do.
Turpin’s journey has been one of sheer resilience and grit. Special teams coordinator John Fassel was effusive about his toughness and courage. Assistant coach Rayna Stewart shared those remarkable qualities during their season in Dallas. For them it was his poise under pressure that stands out, and it’s that difference maker quality that makes him special as a prospect.
Turpin leads the nation with 1,620 all-purpose yards. This accomplishment moved him into the top five players in the NFL in this category. He and his teammate Chimere Dike are the only two athletes in NCAA history to have a 70+ yard return on both a punt and kickoff. It is here that their incredible talent and speed come out most impressively as players.
In March, Turpin signed a three-year, $13.5 million contract extension, further entrenching himself within the organization. This financial commitment speaks to his upside sure, but just as much to the unique brand of value he provides as an incredibly versatile, two-way player. Fassel has allowed Turpin to deviate from the intended path of plays. This trust lets Turpin operate on faith-based leaps of faith that often pay off in big ways.
The forthcoming changes to kickoff rules in 2024 have been crucial on making Turpin more known. These changes have opened up new possibilities including for return specialists like him. Now, they just need to extend that cultural salience to amplify their positive effects on the game.
“Stats don’t matter until the end of the year,” – John Fassel
Fassel’s point of view really highlights the value of looking beyond one game at a time. It’s still very early, but Turpin looks like he’s found a recipe for a breakout season. If he keeps building on moves like this, he’s going to be really good.
Mason spoke on Turpin’s developmental progress as a returner and wide receiver. He highlighted Turpin’s background in special teams. This special combination of experience makes him uniquely capable to understand the field in ways that many of his peers simply don’t.
“He’s learning how to play the game from a special teams standpoint, how to see the field as a returner. So he’s going to be able to operate on offense in spaces that would be hard for some of the other wide receivers to do. He’s used to finding holes and isn’t afraid of contact,” – Derrick Mason
Turpin’s versatility and playmaking skills both offensively and defensively allow him to contribute in multiple phases, becoming a weapon for his team. Mason had represented Turpin’s potential to be one of the best players from his draft class.
“He may end up being the steal of the draft because he’s coming on as a receiver. With his return skills, he’s going to be a guy that, to me, will be a weapon like Percy Harvin,” – Derrick Mason
Turpin’s speed, agility, and field vision make him one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the game today. Fassel aptly summed up Turpin’s diverse skill set by stating:
“Not many people can do kick return, punt return and receiver too. He gets the ball thrown to him, punted to him and kicked to him. He’s an incredibly valuable weapon because he can do all of that,” – John Fassel
Rayna Stewart similarly praised Turpin’s courage in making risky plays.
“It takes a lot of courage to go back there and be willing to run through the smoke or to the ring of fire,” – Rayna Stewart
Turpin is making big strides with the help of veterans coaches like Fassel and Stewart. He is definitely sharpening his skills of evaluating risk and decision-making on field. Fassel acknowledged this growth by sharing:
“I learned a lot from him, where I had to make sure I don’t ever tell Turp where to run,” – John Fassel
Turpin’s development as a player is evident at first glance of his impressive career stats. Yet, on the field, he shows a great tactical acumen for the game, too. The impact of the new kickoff rules is certainly forcing him to play differently. These preventions enable him to flourish in positions that require decision-making on your toes and nimbleness.
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