Cowboys 'Game-Changer' KaVontae Turpin Earns Promise From Brian Schottenheimer

Dallas Cowboys All-Pro returner KaVontae Turpin is no longer the one-trick pony we first saw when he entered the league.

Used as a receiver sparingly under Mike McCarthy in the past two seasons, Turpin's usage in Brian Schottenheimer's offense is expected to increase ... as he shows off more tricks.

Not just a returner or moonlighting as a receiver, in Oxnard, Turpin has been getting a lot of reps at running back, with his speed and zip seeing him be able to fly through to the second level for big gains.

Oh, and he's also mentoring as well.

“We're going to get him the ball,” Schottenheimer said of Turpin. “We're going to get him the ball doing different things. Kudos to him, my first year as a coordinator, he could not handle all the things mentally that we're doing with him now. It's kind of fun for me because I see him coaching Josh Kelly (undrafted free agent receiver), that's how well he's mastered what we're doing. Game changer.”

McCarthy called Turpin a "rocket ship" with the ball in his hands, and we have seen several times how devastating he can be when used correctly.

The touchdown pass from Dak Prescott last season against the San Francisco 49ers, the slant he caught from Cooper Rush against the Houston Texans, and took it 64 yards for a touchdown, or the run plays that saw him pick up a handful of yards before the defense could lay a finger on him.

All of that stresses defense, and when it comes to Turpin, yes, he's a star returner, but it is clear Schottenheimer has a plan for him to be more than just a bit-part offensive piece, but a key one.

And when he's given opportunities, more often than not, good things happen.