A year ago, the Dallas Cowboys signed receiver KaVontae Turpin after his MVP season in the USFL, and he immediately had a Pro Bowl season ... as a return specialist.
He logged just 26 yards from scrimmage for the Dallas offense, however, but his abilities in the kick return gave him a consistent and important role with the club. With a full offseason now under his belt, the TCU product is ready to make strides in a new role: competing for more snaps on offense.
"Last year, coming from the USFL and not getting to do OTAs and the minicamp, I feel like this year I got to do those things, I feel like I’m ahead of where I need to be at coming from the offensive end," Turpin said.
He continued by saying that he's learned the plays and taken advantages of what a summer with the Cowboys can do for a player who is new to the league.
Having earned USFL MVP because of his offensive play and totaling 2,066 yards from scrimmage with 15 touchdowns in his time with the Horned Frogs, Turpin has the capability - and now the confidence - to produce.
"This year I’m trying to do everything. All-Pro, anything I can do since I got my rest during this offseason, said Turpin, who missed the beginning of camp in Oxnard for the birth of his second daughter. "Coming in here with fresh legs. I just feel like right now, I’m at 100 percent of where I need to be.''
The Cowboys already have a loaded receiver room with CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Michael Gallup and more... but adding a prepared Turpin into the mix can only help. Additionally, there is some special-teams competition for him in the form of rookie Deuce Vaughn.
Turpin being an All-Pro at receiver this season would truly be shocking. But Turpin using his electricity as a ball-carrying would not be shocking at all.
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