Michael Turk

Michael Matthew-Paul Turk[1] (born March 14, 1998) is an American football punter who currently plays college football for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Michael Turk
Oklahoma Sooners – No. 37
PositionPunter
Class
Redshirt
Senior
Personal information
Born: (1998-03-14) March 14, 1998
Dallas, Texas
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight228 lb (103 kg)
Career history
College
Bowl games
High schoolRidge Point (TX)
Career highlights and awards

Early years

Turk attended Ridge Point High School, where he played safety, contributing to the school winning the 6A Region Championship in 2014 and 2015. In less than three years, Turk suffered three ACL tears, which hampered his ability to become a safety at the next level.[2] After graduating, he took a year off to train with his brother, Ben Turk, a former punter for Notre Dame, during which he decided that he wanted to become a punter.[2]

College career

Turk accepted a football scholarship from Lafayette College. As a true freshman in 2017, where he registered over 2,800 punting yards and setting a school single-season record with an average of 42.7 yards per attempt.[2] He received second-team All-Patriot League honors.

In 2018 after his freshman season, he transferred to Arizona State University and was redshirted to comply with the NCAA transfer rules.

As a sophomore in 2019, against Kent State University, he recorded punts of 64, 62, 65, 49 and 75 yards, setting an NCAA single-game record with a 63.0-yard average per attempt.[3] He earned honorable-mention All-American honors from GPR Analytics while ranking fourth in the nation with a 95.80 GPR Punt Rating.[4]

On January 6, 2020, he opted to declare for the 2020 NFL Draft.[5][6] On June 3, after failing to be selected by a team, in an unprecedented decision, the NCAA restored his remaining two years of eligibility and allowed him to return to Arizona State.[7][8] As a junior in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Arizona State only played 4 contests during the season.[9] He registered a career-high 47.2-yard average on 14 punts and received first-team All-Pac-12 honors.

On August 5, 2021, he entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal, in part due to his opposition to Arizona State requiring the COVID-19 vaccine to travel to road games.[10] On August 12, he announced that he would be transferring to the University of Oklahoma.[11]

NFL Combine
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 0+1⁄2 in
(1.84 m)		 226 lb
(103 kg)		 31+1⁄8 in
(0.79 m)		 9+7⁄8 in
(0.25 m)		4.79 s1.68 s2.78 s4.72 s34.5 in
(0.88 m)		9 ft 0 in
(2.74 m)		25 reps
All values from NFL Combine[12][13]

On February 27, 2020, he set an NFL Scouting Combine record for punters, with 25 bench press repetitions of 225 pounds.[5] Of those who participated, Turk's total bench reps were more than all 33 wide receivers, 12 out of 13 tight ends, with Josiah Deguara tying him, and 19 offensive lineman out of 34. His bench reps also tied for second among special teams participants since 2006.[14][15]

Personal life

His uncles are former NFL punter Matt Turk and former NFL long snapper Dan Turk.[16] Turk has a YouTube channel called Hangtime, where he uploads videos about his experience playing for Oklahoma, fitness, and his Christian faith.[17] As of May 2022, he has 95,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel.[17]

References
  1. "D1 Athlete Day in the Life: Oklahoma Football Player". youtube.com. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  2. "Keeping the Faith: Michael Turk's unlikely return to Tempe". arizonastate.rivals.com. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  3. "Turk 'staying humble' after earning Pac-12 honor in ASU debut". Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  4. "GPR Analytics". Gpr2018. Retrieved January 27, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. "Michael Turk back, ready to punt for ASU after leaving for NFL draft". azcentral. Retrieved October 21, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. "ASU punter Michael Turk will declare for the 2020 NFL Draft". arizonasports.com. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  7. "Arizona State punter Michael Turk has NCAA eligibility restored after going undrafted, unsigned by NFL". ESPN. Retrieved October 21, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. "Michael Turk to return to ASU football after special NCAA waiver". azcentral.com. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  9. Bromberg, Nick. "Pac-12 follows Big Ten's lead and won't play non-conference games in 2020". Yahoo News. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  10. Hummer, Chris. "Star Arizona State punter Michael Turk enters transfer portal". 247Sports. Retrieved August 12, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. Young, Mason. "OU football: Former Arizona State punter Michael Turk announces transfer to Sooners". OU Daily. Retrieved August 12, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. "Michael Turk Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  13. "Michael Turk, Arizona State, P, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  14. "NFL combine: Punter Michael Turk shows up TEs, WRs in bench press". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  15. "ASU punter Michael Turk puts up 25 bench reps at NFL Draft Combine". arizonasports.com. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  16. "Meet Michael Turk: ASU Football's New Fan Favorite". Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  17. "Hangtime - YouTube". YouTube.com. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
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