Michigan football at NFL Draft Scouting Combine: DJ Turner runs historic 40-yard dash, more live updates
Three Michigan Wolverines football players are set to go through measurements, testing and on-field drills Friday afternoon and evening at the 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Cornerback DJ Turner, kicker Jake Moody and punter Brad Robbins will look to impress scouts and boost their draft stock today.
The special teams guys will be looking to show they are worthy of a draft pick in an era where plenty of specialists have to work their way onto rosters as undrafted free agents. For Turner, it is a chance to improve his stock and work his way into the mix for being the first Michigan prospect off the board.
Friday’s on-field coverage of the combine is televised on NFL Network from 3-8 p.m. ET.
More Michigan players will go through drills throughout the next few days. Here’s the full schedule
- March 2 (3 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET): DL (Mike Morris, Mazi Smith), LB
- March 3 (3 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET): DB (DJ Turner), PK/ST (Jake Moody, Brad Robbins)
- March 4 (1 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET): QB, WR (Ronnie Bell), TE (Luke Schoonmaker)
- March 5 (1 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET): OL (Ryan Hayes, Olusegun Oluwatimi), RB
This live blog will have the latest on how they all do in their on-field drills, what’s being said about them by analysts and more. Follow along below for real-time updates on Michigan players at the combine.
RELATED
• Previewing Michigan’s defensive prospects at the 2023 NFL Combine
Live updates: Michigan at NFL Draft Scouting Combine
• 6:07 p.m. – According to Michigan alum Rich Eisen on the NFL Network broadcast, Turner is the first Wolverine or Ohio State Buckeye to ever run a sub 4.3 40-yard dash in combine history.
• 5:09 p.m. – Jake Moody and Brad Robbins also did some work at the combine on Friday in their usual kicker-holder combination.
• 5:04 p.m. – Turner’s official 40-yard dash time is in at 4.26 seconds. That ties him with Woolen for 2nd all-time at the combine among cornerbacks. It is also the 5th-fastest time in combine history.
• 4:39 p.m. – Turner’s 10-yard split was 1.47 seconds. He still has to go through the 3-cone drill and the 20-yard shuttle before bench pressing on Friday.
• 4:18 p.m. – Turner elected to not run a second 40-yard dash, resting on his 4.27, which currently ranks 8th in NFL Combine history and 3rd among cornerbacks after Kalon Barnes (4.23) and Tariq Woolen (4.26) last year.
• 4:04 p.m. – The top three 40-yard dashes of the NFL Combine belong to Big Ten athletes with Turner (4.27) and Maryland’s Jakorian Bennett (4.31) and Deonte Banks (4.35) coming in second and third, respectively.
• 3:48 p.m. – Turner’s first attempt at the 40-yard dash saw him run an unofficial 4.27, which ranks 1st among corners. He will have one more attempt to outdo himself.
“DJ Turner is a really fluid, easy mover,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “That is textbook.”
• 3:35 p.m. – Only two special teamers have taken part in on-field drills at the combine so far – Oklahoma punter Michael Turk and UCF long snapper Alex Ward.
• 3:03 p.m. – Turner’s first jump numbers came in right before the NFL Network broadcast went live. He broad-jumped, 10’11” and had a vertical jump of 38.5,” both marks 8th among cornerbacks.
• 2:55 p.m. – Vertical and broad jump numbers begin to come in for defensive back prospects
• 12:46 p.m. – Measurements are in for Turner.
| Prospect | Height | Weight | Arm Length | Hand Size |
| DJ Turner | 5’11” | 178 pounds | 30 3/4″ | 9 5/8″ |
Turner’s Michigan measurements were 6-0, 180 pounds last season, so it appears the Wolverines rounded up when putting the roster together last year.
Coming into the event, Turner is seen as a day two prospect. The Draft Network’s Damian Parson has a second round grade on him.
“In all, an NFL team will be receiving one of the better cover corners in the 2023 draft class,” Parson writes. “Turner’s blend of athleticism, competitiveness, instincts, and coverage flexibility gives him a high floor and ceiling heading into the NFL. Turner looks his best in tight man-to-man coverage. This is where his quiet footwork and smooth transitions are an advantage. Teams that need a young cornerback that can step into the CB2 spot as a rookie will be happy with Turner.”
