.jpg) Turpin in 2022 | |||||||||||||||||
| No. 9 – Dallas Cowboys | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Wide receiver /Return specialist | ||||||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1996-08-02)August 2, 1996 (age 29) Monroe, Louisiana, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 153 lb (69 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school | Neville | ||||||||||||||||
| College | TCU (2015–2018) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2019: undrafted | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 9, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||
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KaVontae Lamon Turpin[1] (born August 2, 1996) is an American professionalfootballwide receiver andreturn specialist for theDallas Cowboys of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for the TCU Horned Frogs. Weighing just 154 pound, Turpin is the lightest active NFL player.[2]
Turpin joined theNew Jersey Generals for the2022 USFL season. He was theUSFL MVP for the season. He played in theEuropean League of Football for theWroclaw Panthers from Poland in 2021.[3]
Turpin went toNeville High School in his hometown ofMonroe, Louisiana.[4][5] As a senior, he had 1,928 all-purpose yards, including 904 rushing and 724 receiving, and 29touchdowns. He received All-state, All-Northeast Louisiana and All-NELA Big School Offensive Player of the Year honors.
He was a three-star recruit and no. 12 prospect from all of Louisiana.[6] On January 25, 2015, he committed toTCU over another scholarship offer fromTexas Tech.[7] He playedvarsitybasketball as a guard, averaging 12.9 points per game between his junior and senior years.
Turpin accepted a football scholarship fromTexas Christian University inFort Worth. As a true freshman, he started in five of 13 games. On October 5, he was named Big 12 Co-Offensive Player of the Week, after posting career-best totals of 6 receptions for 138 yards and four receiving touchdowns in the Horned Frogs' 50–7 win over theUniversity of Texas. The four touchdown receptions were the most by a freshman in Big 12 history.[8] He injured his neck and shoulder in the seventh game againstIowa State University and missed the remainder of the contest.
Turpin had 7 receptions for 107 yards and one touchdown in the ninth game againstOklahoma State University.[9] In the twelfth game againstBaylor University, he made a game-winning 8-yard catch in the second overtime. He finished the season with 45 receptions (freshman school record), 649 receiving yards (freshman school record), 8 receiving touchdowns (freshman school record), 1,675 all-purpose yards (led the team) and averaged 15.3 yards every time he touched the ball.[10]
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 sinceGreg McCoy in 2011 (30.6). He was the only player in the nation to rank in the top 25 in both kickoff and punt returns. He was named freshman All-American by the FWAA and honorable-mention All-Big 12 selection as a return specialist.[11]
As a sophomore, Turpin was limited by injuries, appearing in eight games while registering 30 receptions for 295 yards and one receiving touchdown.[12] He averaged 16.2 yards on punt returns and 30.8 on kickoff returns. He was one of five players nationally with a punt return and kickoff return for a touchdown. On September 6, he was named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week after having an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown (sixth longest in school history) in the season opener againstSouth Dakota State while also having 7 receptions for 62 yards, 177 all-purpose yards (82 punt returns, 62 receiving, 33 rushing).[13]
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).[14] His 90-yard punt return for a score in the sixth game against theUniversity of Kansas, tied for the second-longest in school history.
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.[15] He returned a punt for a touchdown in win over theUniversity of Kansas, returned a kickoff for a touchdown againstIowa State University and threw a touchdown in a win overWest 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 theUniversity 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.[6]
As a senior, Turpin played much of the season[16] with a warrant out for his arrest from failure to appear to a domestic violence charge in New Mexico.[17]Gary Patterson and the TCU Coaching staff were aware of the spring break arrest, but failed to investigate it and claim they did not know about the outstanding warrant.[18] He was second on the team in receptions (29), receiving yards (410) and receiving touchdowns (three).[19][20] 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.[21] On October 9, he returned a kickoff for a 98-yard touchdown against theUniversity of Oklahoma, making it his sixth career return (four punts, two kickoffs) for a touchdown, which was also a school record.
On October 23, he was dismissed from the team for two domestic violence charges.[22] 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.[6]
| 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 |
| 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 ft8+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 fromPro Day[23] | ||||||||||||
In 2019, Turpin was ruled ineligible to participate in TCU'sPro Day, forcing him to hold his own workout, where he put up a 40-yard dash time of 4.31 seconds.[24] After going unselected in the2019 NFL draft and not getting an opportunity to play because ofoff-the-field issues, he signed with theFrisco Fighters of theIndoor Football League in2020. However, he never played a game with the team as the season was canceled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.
Turpin joined theFCF Glacier Boyz for the2021 inaugural season.[25] He posted 13 receptions for 223 yards and 4 receiving touchdowns over the 6-game season.
In2021, he signed with the Sea Lions ofThe Spring League (TSL). He appeared in 6 games and was tied for second in the league with 3 receiving touchdowns.
In August2021 season, thePanthers Wrocław of theEuropean League of Football (ELF) based in Poland, signed him mid-season as a replacement for injured running back Mark Herndon.[26] There he won 3 out of 4 regular season games with an important win over theHamburg 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.[27]
Turpin was selected by theNew Jersey Generals in the 13th round (103rd overall) of the2022 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 theleague's Most Valuable Player of theinaugural USFL season.[28]
On July 27, 2022, Turpin signed a three-year contract with theDallas Cowboys of the NFL.[29] On August 20, in the second pre-season game played atSoFi Stadium against theLos 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.[30] Turpin was active for all 17 games during the regular season and both games during thepostseason. 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.[31] On December 21, Turpin was named to thePro Bowl.[32] In the postseason, Turpin added one catch for eight yards, 155 kick return yards, and seven punt return yards to those totals.[33][34]
In Week 1 of the 2023 season, Turpin scored his first NFL touchdown on a 7-yard rush in the fourth quarter against theNew York Giants. The Cowboys won on the road 40–0.[35] He scored his first receiving touchdown in Week 5 against theSan Francisco 49ers.
In Week 6 of the 2024 season against theDetroit Lions, Turpin made 4 kick returns for a career-high 194 yards. In Week 12, Turpin had a 99–yard kick return touchdown that helped the Cowboys defeat theWashington Commanders on the road 34–26.[36] The following week against the Giants, he made his first career fumble recovery following his own fumble, forced byArt Green.
On March 11, 2025, Turpin signed a three-year, $13.5 million contract extension with the Cowboys.[37] In Week 4 against theGreen Bay Packers, with a 1:45 left in the fourth quarter, Turpin made a crucial 45-yard kick return as Dallas was behind at home 30–34. The Cowboys scored a touchdown four plays later, bringing the game to 37–34, as it was brought into overtime and ended in a 40–40 tie.
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career best |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
| 2024 | DAL | 17 | 2 | 31 | 420 | 13.5 | 2 | 16 | 92 | 5.8 | 0 | 27 | 904 | 33.5 | 1 | 18 | 188 | 10.4 | 1 |
| NFL career | 48 | 2 | 44 | 556 | 12.6 | 5 | 30 | 219 | 7.3 | 1 | 58 | 1,704 | 29.4 | 1 | 60 | 570 | 9.5 | 1 | |
| 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 | |
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 byGary Patterson shortly after he was informed of this second battery charge against him.[38] 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.[18] As part of his plea agreement, he served two years deferred adjudication probation and completed a 27-week Partner Abuse Intervention Program.[39]
On July 5, 2025, Turpin was charged by theAllen Police Department for marijuana possession (less than two ounces) and unlawful carrying of a weapon after he was pulled over for driving 97 miles per hour in a zone with speed limit of 70.[40][41] He was released the next day after posting a $1,500 bail.[42]
