Pitt has added a graduate transfer in advance of the 2020 season, as head coach Pat Narduzzi announced on Wednesday that the Panthers have signed former Maryland wide receiver DJ Turner.
Turner is a 5-foot-9, 206-pound native of Glenarden, Maryland and will be a graduate transfer with one season of eligibility remaining. Turner is a graduate of DeMatha Catholic High School just outside Washington, D.C., the same alma mater as Pitt defensive end John Morgan and defensive back Judson Tallandier.
Turner entered the NCAA transfer portal on Aug. 21 after Maryland and the Big Ten announced that they will not be playing in the fall of 2020. Turner played in just three games for the Terrapins in 2020, making four catches for 84 yards against Howard, Syracuse and Temple. He sat out the remainder of the season after a DUI charge on Sept. 20 and took a redshirt, giving him an additional season of eligibility.
In his junior season, Turner was a productive slot receiver and made three starts. In four years in College Park, he had a total of 24 catches for 294 yards and a touchdown. He also had three punt returns for 107 yards and a touchdown in 2019.
Narduzzi said that Turner joined the team last week and after getting enrolled in classes and going through COVID-19 procedures, is able to officially join practices this week.
Though Turner is a redshirt senior, with the NCAA blanket waiver for eligibility for the 2020 season, he will be able to play two years with the Panthers if he chooses to.
Why??? He must add a dynamic we didn’t have. The last time I had a similar thought was when we added Kylan Johnson and we see how that worked out