Cowboys at Titans: KaVontae Turpin to Set Wild Record - And Steal Thursday Night Spotlight?
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin had reasons to harbor aspirations of a great football career. And it's happening now, with one of the most "full'' pro football seasons ... ever.
After a somewhat tumultuous run at TCU where he was cut from the team after legal troubles, Turpin was not selected in the 2019 NFL Draft. He was set to play for the Frisco Fighters of the IFL until the COVID pandemic shut down the season.
After stints in 2021 with Fan-Controlled Football, The Spring League, and some time in European League, Turpin made himself available for the USFL and was selected by the New Jersey Generals in the 13th round (103rd overall).
He appeared in 11 games including the playoffs between April and June for the Generals and was named the league MVP after the season.
And now he will have been part of all of the Cowboys games, counting tonight. So all told? That's 30 pro games in a single year. ... with some anticipation that circumstances might have him be a featured guy at Tennessee tonight.
Turpin's start in the big time happened in part because caught the eye of Cowboys special teams coach John Fassel.
“He’s been on my radar since 2018," Fassel said. "Clearly at TCU, I watched every single one of his returns, but then keeping an eye on him over the course of his Fan [Controlled] Football league and Spring League and then USFL. I’ve seen all of that work. When we found out he was on our radar, I was very hopeful, and obviously when we signed him, super excited. I have huge aspirations for him."
In July, Turpin was signed to a three-year contract by the Cowboys, and the preseason kicked off in August where Turpin played in all three games.
The Cowboys are 11-4 and will play in their 18th game including preseason on Thursday Night Football against the Tennessee Titans.
With 11 USFL games played along with his 19th NFL game of 2022, Turpin will be playing his 30th professional football game of the calendar year and has already been named to the Pro Bowl Games this season.
Of course, Dallas still has another regular-season game and hopefully a deep playoff run afterward. But Thursday night is the last game of the calendar for 2022, and Turpin might be due for some rest. ... though the blowout prospects here could put him in the spotlight as well.
Hopefully, that rest can wait until February.
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