Nolan Turner

Nolan Turner's Biography

Nolan Turner, a renowned name in American professional football, marked his birthday on November 29, 1997. The eminent safety has built a prolific career and is currently a free agent. Amidst immense competitive pressure, Turner has significantly contributed to the sport, enhancing its popularity. He displayed exceptional talent from his early college football days at Clemson and has since expertly maneuvered his career path across various football clubs.

Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Turner attended Vestavia Hills High School, where his distinguished prowess began to unfold. As a senior at Vestavia, his performance brought him into the limelight as he made an impressive 63 tackles with five interceptions.

Following the demise of Turner’s father, Head Coach Nick Saban’s visit turned a significant page in Turner’s life as he offered him a guaranteed walk-on spot. Nolan had a special bond with Alabama as it was his father’s alma mater. Initially tempted to accept the offer and play college football as a walk-on for Alabama, he also had offers noted from UAB and Troy.

As events evolved, Turner decided to open a new chapter in his life. The deciding factor was a late full scholarship offer from Dabo Swinney, a former teammate and roommate of Turner’s father, and current head coach at Clemson. This opportunity materialized due to two safeties decommitting from the school. Thus, Nolan used this chance to commit to Cleveland, a decision shaped not only by circumstance but by honoring his father’s teammate.

Once at Clemson, Turner had an illustrious stint for six seasons, redshirting his true freshman season. His highlight came during his redshirt senior year when his commendable performance amounted to 66 tackles, six tackles for loss, and three interceptions. His contributions were recognized as he was named second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference and a second-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). His talent was acknowledged by extending an extra year of eligibility, granted to college athletes who played in the 2020 season because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In his final season at Clemson, Turner exhibited exceptional athleticism and sportsmanship, with 69 tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, three passes broken up, one interception, and a forced fumble. These remarkable statistics were among the reasons that made Turner an exception in the sport before he took a leap into professional football.

Turner’s entry into the professionals came as an undrafted free agent, signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on May 1, 2022. However, after four months with the team, he was waived on August 30, then signed to the practice squad the next day. In late October, Turner made a comeback by being promoted to the active roster. Turner navigated several ups and downs, further waived in December, only to be re-signed to the practice squad. His fluctuations continued until January 17, 2023, when he inked a reserve/future contract, finally waived once again in August 2023.

Turning attention to his family, it becomes clear that Turner’s football genes ran in his blood. His late father, Kevin Turner, was a highly acclaimed player gaining fame for playing fullback at Alabama and in the NFL for the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles. However, tragic circumstances struck when Kevin Turner succumbed to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), triggered by chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), during Nolan’s high school senior year. Despite the sorrowful incident, Turner continued his passion for sports, possibly further ignited by the legacy of his father. The same love for football can be found in Turner’s younger brother Cole, who is on the Clemson wide receiver roster, symbolizing a genuine football family.