Maryland football wide receiver DJ Turner enters transfer portal

Redshirt senior wide receiver DJ Turner announced he plans to transfer from Maryland Friday morning.

“Being born and raised in Prince George’s County, it has always been a dream of mine to be able to stay home and play college football for The University of Maryland,” Turner said. “I can honestly say that the people I have met and the experiences I’ve had over last four years here have shaped me into a better man.

“After the decision that was made by the BIG 10 to postpone the season, my family and I weighed the options to determine what the best course of action would be to put myself in the best situation during these tough times. After careful consideration I have decided to enter my name into the transfer portal. This has been one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make, but I do believe it’s what’s best for me and my family.”

A former four-star recruit, Turner had his ups and downs in College Park, but the DeMatha product proved to be a big-play threat when on the field.

As a junior in 2018 he had a career high 13 catches for 159 yards — an average of 12.2 yards per catch. In 2019 he bumped that average up to 21 yard per catch, but appeared in just three games. He was expected to be the team’s top slot receiver this season.

He also proved to be a threat as a return man, with 107 punt return yards, including a 40-yard touchdown against Howard and 55-yard return against Temple.

During the Terps’ bye week on Sept. 20, Turner was charged with DUI and Maryland head coach Mike Locksley said it would be best for Turner to “focus on non-football things.” Turner took a redshirt year and the charges were dropped, opening the door back up for a final run as a Terp in 2020.

With the Big Ten postponing fall sports until the winter or spring, Turner would likely miss out on his final opportunity to impress NFL scouts ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft. Turner is also expecting a son in October, which likely played a factor in the decision.

As a graduate transfer, Turner would be immediately eligible to play this fall and potentially have a normal training period in the spring.