If you’re lucky enough to be a prospect at punter in the NFL Combine, you’re going to be asked to partake in various drills and exercises that have little to do with your specific football skill of punting — like, well, the bench press.
But if you’re former Arizona State punter Michael Turk, the bench press is your time to shine apparently.
During Thursday’s NFL Combine workouts, Turk put up an astonishing 25 reps on the bench press, and nobody in the room — even the spotter — really saw that effort coming. According to Pro Football Reference, Turk’s 25 reps were the most by a punter since the site starting tracking the bench press in 2000.
The spotter’s reaction, specifically, said it all. When Turk busted out the first reps at rapid speed, you can see the spotter’s eyebrows raise. Again, this is a punter! And sure, it really doesn’t make much sense for a punter to be benching — why not do the leg press? But fans were still impressed by the effort.
And yes, Turk can punt too.
