Kobie Turner wasn’t as well-known as the Rams’ first two picks in the draft, Steve Avila and Byron Young, but he’s a disruptive player on the defensive line and should have an impact in a rotational role. Like Young, he’s on the older side as a prospect, being 24 years old already, but that didn’t deter the Rams from selecting him on Day 2.
Turner will be an easy player for fans to root for once he suits up for the Rams and shows off his ability on the interior. Off the field, he also has an unexpected skill: singing.
Here are four things to know about Turner, the Rams’ new defensive tackle.
1
He was the 2nd non-combine invitee to get drafted this year
Turner surprisingly didn’t get invited to the NFL combine, so he had to rely on his numbers at Wake Forest’s pro day. That limited his exposure a bit but the Rams didn’t let him fly too far under the radar, selecting him in the third round. He was the second player in the draft this year to be selected despite being a combine snub. Sacramento State linebacker Marte Mapu was the first, going to the Patriots 76th overall.
2
He had the highest career PFF grade of any defensive tackle in the draft
Pro Football Focus was high on Turner in this draft class. He was the 79th-ranked player on their big board, higher than most other analysts. That’s in part because he dominated their metrics and receiving impressive grades for it.
According to PFF, his career grade of 92.2 was the highest of any draft-eligible defensive tackle in 2023.
DAWG WORK. pic.twitter.com/CAKvdz43ft
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) April 29, 2023
3
He was All-CAA three times at Richmond, All-ACC once at Wake Forest
Postseason accolades came pretty easy for Turner. In four seasons at Richmond, he was named first-team All-CAA twice and third-team All-CAA once, earning CAA Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2020. Once he transferred to Wake Forest, he continued to rack up the honors. He was voted third-team All-ACC for the Demon Deacons, earning some well-deserved recognition in his first season in the conference.
4
He sang baritone in Richmond’s choir
Off the field, Turner is a terrific singer. You don’t expect 288-pound defensive tackles to have that sort of skill, but Turner has some serious pipes. He sang baritone in Richmond’s choir and last year, he showed off his voice with a rendition of “Amazing Grace”, which he nailed.
Dane Brugler noted in his draft guide that Turner’s nickname is the “Conductor” for his disruptive play on the field and his voice off it.
