The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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APRIL 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 33 Turner was a second-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches in 2022 after earning honorable mention in 2021, and he made 22 starts in 36 career games played. While he played primar- ily on the boundary in college, his size and athletic profile could see him oper- ate out of the slot. He sees himself as a press-man corner who can do whatever is asked of him. "It just depends on what a team wants," Turner said. "There's Joey Porter [of Penn State] out there. He's a bigger corner. [Illinois' Devon] Wither- spoon, he's out there — we kind of have the same body type. There's [Georgia's Kelee] Ringo, a bigger corner. I know my competition." Most pundits have Turner as a sec- ond- or third-round pick, but ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. sees a path where he could go even earlier. "I think he's got a chance to sneak into the late first [round]," Kiper said on March 22 on a conference call. "I'd put him in the mid-to-late second round right now. Didn't put him in the mock first, but I'll tell you what, he has im- proved his stock dramatically." DEFENSIVE TACKLE MAZI SMITH Projected: Second/third-round pick The headliner of Bruce Feldman's 2022 College Football Freaks List opted out of most work at the NFL Combine, but he did participate at U-M's Pro Day on March 17. Smith recorded a 29½-inch verti- cal jump and an 8-foot, 11-inch broad jump during U-M Pro Day. He tied for second in the bench press at the NFL Combine with 34 reps of 225 pounds. Other than measuring in, this has been the only bout of athletic testing he has done publicly this draft cycle. Smith's game tape at Michigan is strong enough to warrant early consid- eration, but the athletic testing helps paint a picture of an upward trajectory. "You start training like a track star as a big fella, it starts getting hard on you a little bit," Smith said during a brief session with the media on Pro Day. "I'm good at football, man. I ain't no 100-meter sprinter." He continued: "These coaches are getting paid a lot of money to know and be able to see [my] traits. I'm trying to listen to what they say, what they see — and what they tell me I need to work on." Smith did not participate in the work- outs at the NFL Combine other than the bench press, citing "little tweaks" for opting out. Part of Smith's pre-draft process has included answering questions about a gun incident this past fall. He faced a felony gun charge for carrying a loaded weapon without a permit, but later pleaded down to a misdemeanor. He says all he can do is tell the truth. "It comes up," Smith said. "They are about to invest a lot of money. They NFL COMBINE/PRO DAY RESULTS Height/Weight: 5-11, 178 pounds Arms: 30¾ inches Hands: 9⅝ inches 40-Yard Dash: 4.26 Bench Press: DNP Vertical Jump: 38.5 inches Broad Jump: 10 feet, 11 inches 3-Cone Drill: DNP 20-Yard Shuttle: DNP WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT DJ TURNER "In all, an NFL team will be receiving one of the better cover corners in the 2023 draft class. Turner's blend of athleticism, competitiveness, instincts, and coverage flexibility gives him a high floor and ceil- ing heading into the NFL. Turner looks his best in tight man-to-man coverage. This is where his quiet footwork and smooth transitions are an advantage. Teams that need a young cornerback that can step into the CB2 spot as a rookie will be happy with Turner." — The Draft Network's Damian Parson "Explosive athlete combining fluidity, speed and superior technique to excel at his craft. Turner is scheme-diverse with the ability to line up inside or outside in coverage. He's graceful with his mirror and match movements from press or off-man coverage, but he is plenty feisty when challenging throws or hitting receivers after the catch. Despite his competitiveness, big receivers can bounce him around and beat him on 50/50 balls. Turner has the tools and talent to become an early starter as a nickel corner capable of matching up with both shifty and speedy opponents." — NFL.com's Lance Zierlein Defensive tackle Mazi Smith tied for second in the bench press at the NFL Combine with 34 reps of 225 pounds. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN