Dallas Turner, an 18-year-old true freshman, first stepped onto the gridiron inside Lucas Oil Stadium as top-ranked Alabama prepared to defend its title against Georgia in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship.
After committing to Alabama as a five-star recruit out of high school, Turner gained extensive playing time behind former teammate Will Anderson, who was picked third overall by the Houston Texans in the 2023 NFL draft.
Turner demonstrated his dynamic pass rush in the 2022 CFP title game, recording two sacks, one in each half.
With Georgia driving into Alabama territory, Turner shed a pair of blockers at the line of scrimmage and dodged a blatant trip attempt by running back Zamir.
Turner used a power rush off the edge to initiate contact on Georgia’s tight end with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, and in less than three seconds, he delivered a blind side hit for his second sack of the game.
Turner eventually became a two-year starter at Alabama, winning permanent team captaincy and going on to win consensus All-America and SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2023.
Turner recorded 53 tackles in 14 games, leading the Crimson Tide with 14.5 tackles for loss. He recorded 55 pressures, 10 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
Urner has the potential to be the most athletic defender in the 2024 draft class. ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranks the 6-foot-4, 252-pounder as the No. 10 overall prospect (and the No. 1 defensive end).
He was a catalyst as a quarterback spy, demonstrating his ability to break through tackles at the line of scrimmage.
Despite weighing less than typical defensive linemen, Turner uses a spin maneuver when stunting inside and can weave among blockers in pursuit of scrambling quarterbacks.
Turner left a lot to be desired in the first half of the 110th Rose Bowl, against Alabama’s strongest offensive line all season.
He removed himself from the play if it was not intended at him and did not express his presence until midway through the third quarter.
After Michigan brought in backup quarterback Alex Orji on second-and-7, the Wolverines tried to catch the Crimson Tide off guard with Kalel Mullings sprinting up the sideline, but Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold – another 2024 NFL Draft prospect on the Colts radar projected in the mid-first round – sniffed out the play fake, and Turner tracked down Orji near the sideline and pushed him out of bounds for a sack.
A variety of mock drafts anticipate the Colts will select a cornerback in the first round, but after the catastrophic 2023 season, the front office would be wise to seek an established veteran in free agency with the salary space available, rather than risking a rookie defensive back.
This Pro Football Focus Mock Draft Simulator predicts 11 of the first 14 picks to be offensive players. The three defensive players are cornerback Cooper DeJean to the Chicago Bears at No. 9, defe
Colts General Manager Chris Ballard has underlined the need of continuing to develop the defensive line.
Despite the widespread desire to add offensive talents, the Colts have far too many holes to fill on defense. If defensive coach Gus Bradley continues to be hesitant to blitz in 2024, an outstanding edge rusher has the potential to disrupt the defense’s chemistry and cause havoc in the backfield.
Turner turns 21 on Friday and hopes to improve his draft stock during his next visit to Lucas Oil Stadium at the NFL Scouting Combine.
According to Diante Lee of The Athletic, Turner might be drafted fourth overall by the Atlanta Falcons. Indianapolis would celebrate if Turner dropped into the Colts’ lap on selection night.
As the demand for a Premier Pass
nsive lineman Jer’Zhan Newton to the Minnesota Vikings at No. 11, and cornerback Nate Wiggins to the Denver Broncos at No. 12.
As an agile pass rusher who can spy on the quarterback becomes a must-have for most teams, Turner might be the first component to save the Indianapolis defense.
