NFL Draft Profile: Tré Turner, Wide Receiver, Virginia Tech Hokies

NFL draft profile scouting report for Virginia Tech wide receiver, Tré Turner

---

#11
Pos: WR
Ht: 6013
Wt: 184
Hand: 0848
Arm: 3068
Wing: 7428
40: 4.51
Bench: N/A
3-Cone: N/A
Shuttle: 4.53
Vert: 27"
Broad: 09'05"
DOB: 4/21/00
Eligible: 2022
Greensboro, NC
Northwest Guilford High School

Tré Turner
Virginia Tech Hokies

---

Pros: 

Dietz: Turner primarily lines up as the X receiver in the Hokies offense. Tall pass catcher with professional-level athleticism. He has a very spindly frame but shows solid functional strength on tape. Hands are clean and does not possess any noteworthy drop issues. Wingspan allows him to outstretch his arms for overthrown balls and pull into his body. Separation past twenty yards is a sight to see - will get open and give his quarterback a touchdown shot with ease. Acceleration and agility is marvelous - crips jukes and quick feet allow him to gain extra yardage at will.

Ezring: Virginia Tech’s offense in 2020 was driven by NFL-caliber playmakers at nearly every skill position. Tré Turner may have been the team’s most exciting weapon last season. The 6020 receiver boasts an impressive combination of height and movement skills. The North Carolina native is laterally and linearly explosive. What’s more, his flexible frame enables him to make easy changes of direction. When releasing from the line of scrimmage, Turner dips his shoulder to reduce pressable surface area. While working up the route stem, he uses changes of pace and gait to manipulate defenders. Further, the Virginia Tech star employs body language, jab steps, head fakes and directional changes to force false steps and early hip turns. At the top of his route stem, Turner sinks his hips before making sudden breaks; he maintains pace through his cuts. The Hokies’ standout gets onto defenders’ toes before breaking. Once into his route, Turner tracks the ball well and has the body control to adjust. He also has reliable hands. After the catch, Turner is extremely elusive. He anticipates the next defender at all times and strings changes of direction together. The athletic wide receiver has great vision in the open field. As a blocker, Turner plays with solid effort. He mirrors his opponents to remain an obstacle. Turner has inside-outside potential; he should be an impact returner on special teams. 

Cons: 

Dietz: Needs to put a little more mass on his frame. Stance is odd at the line of scrimmage and the get-off is slightly disappointing as well. Displays effort with his blocking, but gets overpowered quite easily. Overall route running at all three levels of the field is poor, needs to be coached up. Would like to see him used on screens more given his elusiveness and lateral quickness. Against press coverage, gets bullied and fails to separate quickly enough. Long speed takes a while to get going - won’t blow past cornerbacks in most situations.

Ezring: Although his skillset offers him a potentially rosterable floor, the Virginia Tech receiver exhibits several traits that will hinder him in the league. Turner’s skinny frame shows up in his limited play strength. Despite his explosive profile, the talented pass-catcher is sometimes slow out of his stance. Similarly, his unexciting long speed hurts his ability to separate deep. These issues in his movement skills may be, in part, attributed to his effort. He regularly jogs his routes and appears slower than he is. Turner also occasionally takes false steps out of his stance. Moreover, physical coverage impacts his timing and spacing while giving defenders a chance to recover. Opponents even force the North Carolina native out of bounds when he lines up outside. Physicality at the top of his route stem renders him completely ineffective. Further, Turner struggles to keep his frame clear of contact, rarely fighting hands. Additionally, he does not consistently force defenders into false steps and early hip turns. When he does, his speed does not always allow him to maintain separation. At the catch point, the athletic receiver lets the ball too far into his frame and does not high point deep balls. What’s more, Turner is often late to engage and thrown around by defenders as a blocker. The Virginia Tech standout’s NFL projection is limited to the slot and special teams until he learns to beat press.

Summary: 

Dietz: Tré Turner is a former big-time recruit who comes from an athletic family (older brother P.J. was an NBA player) and has very good tape throughout his career at Virginia Tech. The numbers aren’t eye-popping, and neither is the skillset, but he’s an all around solid receiver who simply has a knack for being open at the right time thanks to his agility and high football IQ. He knows the correct move and where the play is headed, and although he’ll never be a true game-breaking threat, I do believe he has a chance to be a nice mid-round value and potential WR3 in the NFL thanks to his size and athleticism. 

Ezring: One of the nation’s most exciting playmakers, Tré Turner’s explosiveness, flexibility, route running and work after the catch make him an intriguing prospect. All the same, he exhibits underwhelming play strength and inconsistent effort. He projects as an immediate returner on special teams who can see the field on offense from the slot occasionally; he can develop into an inside-outside starting receiver if he learns to beat press.

Background:

Born on April 21st, 2000 in Greensboro, North Carolina to parents William Turner Jr. and Wendy Poteat, William Lee Turner III (Tré Turner) was a standout athlete at Northwest Guilford High School. During his career with the program, he was a two-time HSXtra.com All-Area honoree at wide receiver. He was selected to the Preseason All-State team by The Charlotte Observer before his senior season. Despite missing half of the final year of his high school career with a shoulder injury, Turner recorded 567 yards and six touchdowns. He also played basketball for Northwest Guilford and was named the 2016 HSxtra Player of the Year. In recognition of his stellar high school football career, Turner received a four-star rating from 247Sports Composite Rankings. The same service listed him as the 180th-overall player in his class, the 34th-ranked receiver in his year and the eighth-best player from North Carolina. Turner was an instant impact player for the Hokies. In his freshman year, he played in 12 games and started five. He recorded 26 receptions for 535 yards and four touchdowns. He rushed the ball eight times for 101 yards and a touchdown. The North Carolina native continued his impressive career in 2019. Turner started 11 games, leading the team with 34 receptions, 553 yards and four touchdowns. A dual-threat player, he rushed the ball 24 times for 231 yards and one touchdown. After a COVID-impacted offseason, Turner built on his stretch of consistent play for Virginia Tech. In 2020, the junior started ten games. He was second on the team with 34 receptions and 529 yards. He also tied for second with three touchdowns. Further, the talented receiver ran the ball nine times for 60 yards and one touchdown. Turner has two brothers, P.J. and Walter. P.J. Hairston was a basketball player at the University of North Carolina who was taken in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. Turner is a public health major. 

---

One-Liners

Dietz: A good athlete with great elusiveness but lacking technical ability and strength, Turner’s ceiling is capped but he 100% has a role in the NFL eventually as a deep threat.

Ezring: While he struggles with play strength and inconsistent effort, Tré Turner’s explosiveness, flexibility, route running and work after the catch make him an intriguing prospect; he can contribute as a returner on special teams immediately.

Grades

Current Player Value/Potential Player Value

Dietz: 7.3 / 8.5

Ezring: 7.1 / 8.2