Alex Turner

Height:
6-2
Weight:
274
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Houston, Texas
High School:
Jersey Village
Major:
Psychology-Neuroscience

Poised to continue impressive career climb, moving from a full-time starting position as a junior to a conference and national honors candidate during senior campaign … Turned in a productive first three seasons, beginning as a true freshman who experienced significant action 2016 before opening six contests during sophomore season a year later … In all, has played in 29 career games with 18 starts and netted 69 overall stops (28 solo), 12.0 TFLs and 5.0 sacks … Closed out spring work under a new coaching staff with a firm grip on a starting assignment at one of the Pirates’ two tackle positions … Ranked among tackle leaders with six (plus 2 TFLs) during the first scrimmage on March 30, but was not credited with any statistics during the remaining two contests … A Preseason All-American Athletic Conference (third-team) selection by Athlons ... Officially recognized as a nominee for selection to the 2019 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team on July 16.

2018: Opened all 12 games at the nose tackle position during junior campaign … Credited with 47 overall stops (18 solo, 29 assists) … Tallied 10.5 tackles for lost yardage (-28 yards), which stood second on the unit and ranked 13^th among all American Athletic Conference defenders … Also logged 4.0 sacks (-13 yards), one forced fumble (Tulane), a batted pass (Cincinnati) and a pair of quarterback pressures (Connecticut) … Contributed on special teams as well, blocking a first-quarter PAT against USF at Raymond James Stadium … Completed first half of schedule (six games) with 24 stops, 7.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks (compared to 23, 3.5 and 1.0 totals in the final half-dozen outings) … Turned in a career-best eight tackles at Temple, while recording seven stops each in contests vs. Old Dominion, UCF and Tulane … Other performances of note were a pair of five-hit games against USF and Memphis … Tackle splits include 40 vs. rushing plays and seven against the pass … Was the Pirates’ fifth-leading defender on the road (24 stops) … Had at least 1.0 TFL in six games - N.C. A&T (2.5), Old Dominion (2.0), USF (1.5), UCF (1.0), Tulane (1.0) and NC State (1.0) … Booked QB drops against the Bulls (1.5), Monarchs (1.5) and Knights (1.0) … Key contributor for a defensive unit which finished 3^rd nationally in TFLs (8.8 tflpg) and 22^nd in sacks (2.8 spg).

2017: Played in 10 contests with six starts as a sophomore … Opened games against Connecticut, Temple, UCF, BYU, Houston and Tulane … Did not play in first two tilts against James Madison and West Virginia … Collected at least one stop in nine games and posted multiple tackle outings on six occasions, including a season-high four against the Huskies during the Pirates’ 41-38 win in East Hartford … Also tallied two hits in games vs. USF, UCF, BYU, Houston and Cincinnati … Credited with 1.5 TFLs (1.0/UConn, 0.5/BYU) and one sack vs. the Huskies (-4 yards) … Earned the program’s “Defensive Big Man-of-the-Year” honors following the season.

2016: Earned promotion to active roster at the close of preseason camp and experienced action in seven contests as a true rookie … Made collegiate debut vs. Western Carolina and followed with appearances against Virginia Tech, UCF, USF, Cincinnati, Navy and Temple … Credited with five tackles (four solo) … Logged a season-best three stops (all solo) in season finale against Owls at Lincoln Financial Field … Added single hits in tilts vs. Catamounts (first career tackle) and Bearcats … Member of former head coach Scottie Montgomery’s first ECU signing class, inking with the Pirates in February.

High School: A two-time all-district selection and three-year letterman for coach David Snokhous at Jersey Village High School … Served as team captain for the Falcons … Followed First-Team All-District 17-6A accolades in 2014 with second-team honors as a senior despite playing through injuries during season … As a junior, stood third on unit with 35 total tackles (26 solo, nine assists) … Also credited with 2.0 TFLs, a pair of quarterback pressures and one fumble recovery to help JVHS to a 6-4 mark … Earned Overall MVP status at the prestigious NUC Texas 5-Star Showcase in the summer of 2015, prior to senior campaign … Promoted to varsity roster as a sophomore … Reportedly owned a prep bench press of 400 pounds and a squat lift of 600 … Also recruited by Tulane and Vanderbilt before officially committing to the ECU program on January 17, 2016 … Excelled in the classroom, earning academic all-district honors as a sophomore, junior and senior … Member of the National Honor Society and National Society of High School Scholars … Held a class rank in the upper 15 percent (123 of 798).

Personal: Full name is Alexander Christopher Turner … Born at Houston, Texas … Son of Chris Turner and Kristie Walker … Father was a football letterman as a tight end at Ole Miss (1991-94) … Grandfather Mike Walker also played collegiate football as a defensive back at New Mexico State … Has a double major of psychology and multidisciplinary studies (neuroscience) and currently sports a 3.57 grade point average … An ECU Dean’s List selection for work during the 2016, 2017 & 2018 fall semesters and 2019 spring semester, and an Honor Roll recipient during the 2017 & 2018 spring semesters … Earned semifinalist status for the prestigious National Football Foundation's (NFF) Campbell Trophy® in 2018 and was named to the Google Cloud Academic All-District 3 First-Team in 2017 and 2018 ... A three-time American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team and four-time ECU Director of Athletics Honor Roll selection ... Additionally, was awarded an ECU Spring Undergrad Research & Creativity Award for his research examining prostatic radiation and bladder function/innervation in the winter of 2019 ... Hobbies include working out, reading, movies and television.