DJ Turner

Position:
WR
Class:
Redshirt Senior
Height:
5-9
Weight:
205
Hometown:
Glenarden, MD
High School:
DeMatha Catholic

2020: Joined Pitt in August as a graduate transfer from Maryland and made an immediate impact for the Panthers as a receiver and returner…played in all 11 games, starting six…earned first-team All-ACC honors in the return specialist category…finished second for Pitt in receptions (44), receiving yards (634) and receiving touchdowns (three)…led the Panthers in punt returns (15 for 125 yards, 8.3 avg.) and kickoff returns (14 for 311, 22.2 avg.)…his punt return average ranked second in the ACC and his kickoff return average ranked third…twice earned ACC Receiver of the Week (NC State and Virginia Tech)…initial honor came after he posted a career-high 186 yards on eight receptions (23.3 avg.) against NC State…was honored a second time after he had a career-high 15 catches for 184 yards (12.3 avg.), including a 64-yard TD against Virginia Tech…his 15 catches marked the most by an ACC player in 2020 and fourth most nationally…he fell just one catch shy of the Pitt single-game receptions record of 16 set in 1968 by Harry Orszulak against Penn State…had a 60-yard touchdown catch at Georgia Tech…had a season-long punt return of 25 yards against NC State…had a season-long kickoff return of 42 yards at Boston College.

AT MARYLAND (2016-19): Played in 31 career games, making six starts at receiver…compiled 24 catches for 294 yards (12.3 avg.) and a touchdown for his Terps career…also contributed as a return specialist and had a 40-yard punt return touchdown to his credit (vs. Howard, 2019)…had a then career-high 54 receiving yards against Minnesota (2018)…receiving total against the Gophers came on a 54-yard touchdown…had a then personal-best five catches (for 23 yards) against Texas (2018).

HIGH SCHOOL: A standout receiver and cornerback at DeMatha Catholic under Coach Elijah Brooks…helped lead DeMatha to three consecutive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championships…ranked the No. 7 overall prospect in Maryland by Rivals.

PERSONAL: Darryl Renard Turner II, born 1/18/97, is the son of Deidre Newkirk and Darryl Turner…has one brother and one sister…earned his bachelor’s degree from Maryland in family science…enrolled in Pitt’s College of General Studies.