KaVontae Lamon Turpin born August 2, 1996 is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL. He played college football at Texas Christian University (TCU).
In 2022, Turpin joined the New Jersey Generals of the USFL, where he was named the league’s MVP for the season. Prior to that, he played for the Wroclaw Panthers in the European League of Football in 2021.
| Born | August 2, 1996 Monroe, Louisiana, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 153 lb (69 kg) |
| High school | Neville |
| College | TCU (2015–2018) |
| Undrafted | 2019 |
Turpin attended Neville High School in his hometown of Monroe, located east of Shreveport, Louisiana. During his senior year, he accumulated 1,928 all-purpose yards, including 904 rushing yards, 724 receiving yards, and 29 total touchdowns. His outstanding performance earned him All-State, All-Northeast Louisiana, and All-NELA Big School Offensive Player of the Year honors.
A three-star recruit, he was ranked the 12th-best prospect in Louisiana. On January 25, 2015, Turpin committed to play at TCU, choosing it over an offer from Texas Tech. In addition to football, he played varsity basketball as a guard, averaging 12.9 points per game during his junior and senior seasons.
Aspect | Details |
High School | Played at Neville High School in Monroe, Louisiana. |
College | Attended Texas Christian University (TCU) from 2015 to 2018. |
Position | Wide Receiver / Return Specialist. |
Awards | Freshman All-American (2015), Honorable Mention All-Big 12 (2015-2017). |
Key College Stats | 145 receptions, 1,748 yards, 13 touchdowns; 6 career return touchdowns (4 punt, 2 kickoff). |
Aspect | Details |
First Professional League | Joined Frisco Fighters in 2020, but did not play due to COVID-19 pandemic. |
FCF Glacier Boyz | Played in the 2021 FCF league; posted 13 receptions for 223 yards and 4 touchdowns. |
European League (ELF) | Played for Panthers Wrocław in 2021, accumulating 702 all-purpose yards and 6 touchdowns. |
USFL | Played for New Jersey Generals in 2022, named USFL MVP with 44 receptions and 540 yards. |
NFL | Signed with Dallas Cowboys in 2022, named to Pro Bowl for his return skills. |
Season | Games Played | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Yards per Reception | Touchdowns | Punt Returns (Yards) | Kickoff Returns (Yards) |
2015 | 13 | 45 | 649 | 14.4 | 8 | 181 | 729 |
2016 | 8 | 30 | 295 | 9.8 | 1 | 125 | 482 |
2017 | 14 | 41 | 394 | 9.6 | 1 | 260 | 462 |
2018 | 7 | 29 | 410 | 14.1 | 3 | 175 | 312 |
Achievement | Details |
Big 12 Honors | 2× First-Team All-Big 12 as Return Specialist (2017), 1× Honorable Mention as Wide Receiver (2017). |
National Honors | FWAA Freshman All-American (2015), 247Sports.com True Freshman All-American (2015). |
School Records | Most career kick return yards (1,985), Most career combined return touchdowns (6). |
Year | Team | Games Played | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Yards per Reception | Touchdowns | Kick Returns (Yards) | Punt Returns (Yards) |
2022 | Dallas Cowboys | 17 | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 | 508 | 303 |
2023 | Dallas Cowboys | 16 | 12 | 127 | 10.6 | 3 | 110 | 292 |
2024 | Dallas Cowboys | 6 | 13 | 129 | 9.9 | 1 | 3 | 301 |
Year | Team | Kickoff Returns | Kickoff Return Yards | Punt Returns | Punt Return Yards |
2022 | Dallas Cowboys | 21 | 508 | 29 | 303 |
2023 | Dallas Cowboys | 10 | 110 | 10 | 292 |
2024 | Dallas Cowboys | 7 | 301 | 5 | 96 |
Aspect | Details |
Off-field Incident | Dismissed from TCU football team in 2018 due to domestic violence charges. |
Guilty Plea | Pleaded guilty to second family violence case in 2019; served probation and completed an intervention program. |
Impact on Career | Legal issues affected his draft prospects but did not deter his eventual NFL journey. |
Season | Team | Games Played | Pro Bowl Selection | Key Plays |
2022 | Dallas Cowboys | 17 | Yes | 98-yard kickoff return, 86-yard punt return in preseason. |
2023 | Dallas Cowboys | 16 | No | Scored first NFL touchdown in season opener. |
Topic | Details |
Personal Struggles | Faced legal issues related to domestic violence but worked through a rehabilitation program. |
Football Resilience | Overcame off-field challenges to build a successful professional career. |
League | Team | Key Stats and Contributions |
Frisco Fighters (2020) | Frisco Fighters | Signed but did not play due to COVID-19 pandemic. |
FCF Glacier Boyz (2021) | FCF Glacier Boyz | 13 receptions, 223 yards, 4 touchdowns. |
Spring League (2021) | Sea Lions | 6 games, 3 receiving touchdowns, 240 yards. |
ELF (2021) | Panthers Wrocław | 702 all-purpose yards, 6 touchdowns. |
His estimated net worth is somewhere around $1 million to $5 million.
KaVontae Turpin is a versatile American football player, known for his role as a wide receiver and return specialist with the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at TCU, where he set multiple records, particularly in kick and punt returns. After going undrafted in 2019, Turpin played in several alternative football leagues, including the USFL, where he was named MVP in 2022. He signed with the Cowboys in 2022 and quickly became a key special teams contributor, earning a Pro Bowl selection in his first season. Known for his speed and electrifying return abilities, Turpin has made an impact in both the NFL and other football leagues.