Wide receiver DJ Turner became the latest senior to leave Pitt and enter the 2021 draft, announcing his decision on Sunday afternoon. He is the sixth Panthers to do so, choosing not to utilize the NCAA's blanket waiver next season.
Defensive end Rashad Weaver and safety Damar Hamlin were the first seniors to make their intentions clear, opting not to play in Pitt's final game at Georgia Tech. Pass rusher Patrick Jones II and cornerback Jason Pinnock announced their decisions on Friday, while left guard Bryce Hargrove tweeted out his on Saturday.
More players are expected to leave, too. Those six Panthers were joined by quarterback Kenny Pickett, center Jimmy Morrissey, kicker Alex Kessman and linebacker Phil Campbell on Senior Day. All four of those who haven't announced their intentions could land on NFL rosters.
Jones and Weaver could land in the first or second round of April's draft. Hamlin is a projected mid-round pick. Pickett is slated as a top-10 quarterback off the board. Morrissey could be selected late, and the rest ought to at least get a shot as undrafted free agents.
Turner has plenty to offer NFL teams in need of a kick returner or slot receiver. The 5-foot-9, 205-pound speedster caught 44 passes for 634 yards, establishing himself as Pitt's second-leading receiver in his lone year with the Panthers.
Turner, a 23-year-old graduate transfer, left Maryland when the Big Ten decided it wouldn't play football in 2020. The slot receiver joined Pitt 10 days before its season opener and contributed immediately. Turner caught a 51-yard touchdown in his debut against Austin Peay, nabbed five catches in Pitt's ACC opener against Syracuse and popped off for 186 yards in the Panthers' narrow loss to N.C. State.
Turner's finest performance, though, came on Senior Day. Starting in place of star freshman Jordan Addison, who was out due to COVID-19 protocols, Turner exploded for 15 catches, 184 yards and a 64-yard touchdown in the Panthers' blowout win against Virginia Tech. He finished one catch short of tying Pitt's single-game record, set by Harry Orszulak against Penn State in 1968.
Turner showcased in that game why he'll get a look from scouts. His short to intermediate routes were crisp against the Hokies, and his shiftiness with the ball after the catch was noteworthy all year. Turner's ability on special teams — he had kick returns of 32, 39 and 42 yards against Notre Dame, Clemson and Boston College, respectively — could be useful at the next level, too.
For Pitt, losing Turner — one of the program's best graduate transfer additions in recent memory — will hurt. But with Addison, Taysir Mack, Shocky Jacques-Louis and Jared Wayne all returning, wide receiver is one of Pitt's deepest positions entering 2021.
John McGonigal: jmcgonigal@post-gazette.com and Twitter @jmcgonigal9.
First Published: December 13, 2020, 8:40 p.m.