From now until the 2023 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents Today, we’ll be profiling Wake Forest DL Kobie Turner.
#0 Kobie Turner, DL, Wake Forest (6-Sr.) — 6024, 293
Pro Day
Measurements
| Player | Ht/Wt | Hand Size | Arm Length | Wingspan |
| Kobie Turner | 6024/293 | 10 1/4″ | 31 3/8″ | 76 3/4″ |
| 40-Yard Dash | 10-Yard Dash | Short Shuttle | 3-Cone | |
| N/A | N/A | 4.49 | 7.08 | |
| Broad Jump | Vertical | Bench Press | ||
| 8′ 0″ | N/A | 31 |
The Good
— Constantly hand-fighting through a rep, doesn’t quit until he wins
— Good bend for his size
— Go-to punch and rip move allows him to shoot gaps consistently
— Motor is always running hot
— Will chase down runs from backside or 20 yards downfield
— Great first step in order to split blocks on the interior
— Will get his hands up into passing lanes when he can’t get to the QB
— Led Wake Forest in forced fumbles with three in 2022
— Consistently in opponents’ backfields, registered a quarterback hurry in eight games and had a tackle for loss in nine games (out of 13)
— NFL demeanor with film study and work ethic
The Bad
— Can take himself out of position on run plays trying to split wrong gaps
— Average length will cause him trouble against longer linemen (see Louisville)
— Could put on a few pounds to help hold his own at the point of attack, especially versus double teams
— Can get washed down the line of scrimmage versus doubles-teams
— Doesn’t have the ability to consistently collapse pocket with bull rush
— Looked out of place when he had to play as a true 0-tech
— Lacks any sort of true pass-rush counters
— On the ground far too much
— Wasn’t a full-time starter at Wake Forest, averaged 40 snaps a game
Bio
— 187 tackles, 43.5 tackles for loss, 18.0 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 2 pass deflections in 51 career games
— 27 career starts
— 92.2 PFF Grade is the second-highest grade of a Power-5 defender in 2022
— 2022 third-team All-ACC (Wake Forest)
— Transferred from Richmond to Wake Forest in 2022
— 2021 FCS second-team All-American (Richmond)
— 2021 first-team All-CAA (Richmond)
— 2020 first-team All-CAA (Richmond)
— 2020 CAA Defensive Player of the Year (Richmond)
— Team captain in 2020 (Richmond)
— Nicknamed “The Conductor” due to his musical background
— Music and Mathematics Double-Major
— Received walk-on opportunity at Richmond due to coaches recruiting his cousin, Caleb Brooks, and seeing Turner during an in-house visit
— Sings Baritone for Richmond’s Schola Cantorum and sang National Anthem solo for Richmond Spiders basketball game
— Was tackling vacuum cleaners at age 2
— He started his football career in a flag football league and would tackle people before grabbing their flags
— After football career would like to be a high school choir director
Tape Breakdown
While most aspiring college football players were attending college recruiting camps, Kobie Turner was working on his other dream: singing. Due to this, he was barely recruited coming out of high school and was only offered a walk-on spot at Richmond after the coaching staff saw him at an in-house visit while recruiting his cousin, Caleb Brooks. The decision for Richmond turned out to be a good one as Turner would go on to rack up 33.5 TFLs and 16.0 sacks over the course of his career with two All-CAA nods and won the CAA Defensive Player of the Year along the way. Turner then decided to test his skills against ACC competition, moving across the Virginia/North Carolina state line to Wake Forest. He was involved in a heavy defensive line rotation but still was able to create havoc behind the line of scrimmage with 10 tackles for loss and two sacks while leading the Demon Deacons in forced fumbles with three. The effort was good enough to earn him third-team All-ACC recognition.
Let’s take a look at Turner’s film and see what brings to the table.
When watching Turner, the first thing that stands out is his incredibly strong and active hands. He consistently uses them to fight and claw his way past opponents, making it difficult for them to contain him. With his impressive short-area acceleration, Turner only needs a small amount of space to burst through gaps and make a tackle, often winning these battles from his strength and hand usage.
In the next clip, Turner’s exceptional hand usage is on full display as he faces North Carolina’s offensive line. Despite being a 290-pound interior defensive lineman, Turner demonstrates his ability to cross-chop. It’s a move typically reserved for more experienced EDGE rushers.
He uses it to make quick work of the tackle and then takes on the guard pulling on the play-action look and just misses affecting the quarterback’s pass.
Turner’s impressive core strength is a key factor in his ability to maneuver around blockers and open up gaps in the offensive line. He’s able to generate torque and rotational force to leverage and outmuscle his opponents, even when facing larger and more physically imposing offensive linemen.
Turner also presents good bend and can use it to rip under linemen.
In the next clip, Turner is facing off against Missouri’s offensive line. With a quick burst of speed and a precise rip move, he is able to get past his opponent and turn the corner, setting himself up for a strip-sack on the quarterback. Make sure you watch all the way to the end for “The Conductor’s” sack dance.
Turner’s exceptional awareness on the field is a key factor in his ability to make plays and disrupt opposing offenses. Even while battling offensive linemen, he is always able to keep his eye on the ball and anticipate where the ball carrier is headed.
Below are some good examples of him using his awareness to either pressure the quarterback or stop the ball carrier.
Continuing with his awareness, Turner does a great job of getting his hands up into passing lanes when he realizes that he won’t be able to get to the quarterback.
No one will ever question Turner’s motor. He’s constantly on go and it resulted in numerous big plays.
Below are two forced fumbles that Turner’s hustle put him in a position to make. In the third clip, he pressures the quarterback back inside into a sack for his fellow defensive lineman.
Turner impressed at his Pro Day with agility numbers of a 4.49 shuttle and an elite 3-cone of 7.08 at 293 pounds.
This next clip shows him using that short-area quickness in a unique way. It’s not often that teams will ask their defensive linemen to drop into coverage, but Turner does just that. The way he’s able to flip his hips and get upfield for the tackle is insane at his size. As I said, it won’t be a play that’ll be seen very often, but it showcases just what type of athlete Turner truly is.
Not everything is perfect with Turner’s game.
There are times against double-teams when Turner gets washed in the run game. He’s constantly trying to split gaps, which can leave him unbalanced and unsuspecting of double teams. He seems to have the lower-body strength to hold his own if he’s square, but too many times you’ll see him down the line of scrimmage.
In addition to his struggles with double-teams in the run game, Turner also has a tendency to play too high. This can leave him vulnerable to offensive linemen with more length, ones who are able to get their hands on him and control the line of scrimmage.
To succeed at the next level, Turner will need to work on improving his pad level and staying lower to the ground. This will help him maintain his leverage and prevent offensive linemen from getting under his pads and controlling him.
Turner doesn’t utilize the bull rush move as often as some other defensive linemen, despite his squattier build and ability to get under the pads of opposing linemen. He seemingly lacks power in the part of his game.
While he has shown the ability to be disruptive with his quickness and hand usage, he may need to develop a more powerful bull rush to be able to consistently collapse the pocket and disrupt the quarterback.
Conclusion
Kobie Turner brings a strong work ethic and a pro-level attitude to the game. He has an exceptional motor and active hands that consistently create pressure in the backfield. While he can struggle with gap control and face challenges against longer linemen due to his average length, he’s still projected to be a solid player in the NFL. I have him graded as a 4th-round value, but it wouldn’t shock me to see him taken a little earlier due to this draft’s thin defensive line class. He’ll make a quality depth piece for a defensive line, especially in a system that operates mostly out of an even-man front. Turner’s best tape comes as a 3-tech, and he’ll be able to immediately contribute as a rotational defensive lineman.
Projection: Early Day 3
Depot Draft Grade: 7.3- Rotational Player (4th Round)
Games Watched: Clemson (2022), UNC (2022), Florida State (2022), Lousiville (2022), Boston College (2022), Missouri (2022)
