Oklahoma punter Michael Turk signs UDFA deal following 2023 NFL Draft

Following an impressive six-year college career — including the past two seasons at Oklahoma — Michael Turk is on to the NFL. The punter did not hear his name called in the 2023 draft, but later signed as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins.

Turk becomes the third member of his family to make it to the NFL, following in the footsteps of his uncles, Matt and Dan. Matt Turk also played punter, spending 19 seasons in the league and making three Pro Bowl appearances. Dan Turk later served as long snapper for Matt in Washington from 1997-99, making the pair of the first brother-to-brother snapper-punter combination in NFL history.

Michael Turk began his college career at FCS Lafayette College in 2017, setting the single-season record for punting average (42.7 yards per punt). He transferred the Arizona State the following season, spending the next three years with the Sun Devils and earning first team All-Pac 12 honors in 2019 and 2020.

In 2021, Michael Turk transferred to Oklahoma and set a record for single-game punt average (59.7 yards) that year against TCU. He was named first team All-Big 12 in each of the past two years and was a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award in 2022. Turk saw 22 of his punts downed inside the 20-yard line this past season.

Turk averaged 47.4 yards on 243 career punts, which is just 0.4 yards shy of the FBS record set by Colorado State‘s Ryan Stonehouse.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Michael Turk

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein provided some analysis on Turk in his recent scout of the punter’s draft profile. The analyst fittingly named his uncle Matt as his pro comparison, noting how training under him helped prepare him for the pros.

But while Zierlein admitted Michael Turk’s punting power is undeniable, he added that the punter will need to work on his accuracy. If he can do a better job of pinning opponents during the end zone, he could enjoy a long NFL career just like his uncle.

“Like a home run hitter in baseball, Turk has tremendous power but is lacking ball control to plant opposing teams against their end zone instead of kicking for touchbacks,” Zierlein wrote. “He has improved his hang-time and outkicked his coverage a little less frequently, which will matter for NFL evaluators. The pure power and talent could get him a Day 3 look.”