The accolades keep coming in for USFL 2022 MVP KaVontae Turpin. The New Jersey Generals superstar and current Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl returner has now been named an inaugural NFL Players Association All-Pro Team member.
USFL 2022 MVP KaVontae Turpin Earns High Honor From NFLPA
Voted exclusively by NFL players, Kavontae Turpin makes the All-Pro team as a punt returner. Alongside Atlanta Falcons’ jack of all trades Cordarelle Patterson, who is the NFLPA’s choice at kick returner.
This is a tremendous honor bestowed upon Turpin in what amounts to his rookie season as an NFL player.
USFL MVP WR/KR KaVontae Turpin is also headed to the NFC Pro Bowl as the #1 vote-getting returner on special teams.
Turpin had a fantastic 2022, taking the USFL by storm with the New Jersey Generals and then becoming a star for the Dallas Cowboys. A career resurgence saw him cast aside at TCU, leading to a pro journey that included stops in the European League Of Football and the indoor league Fan Controlled Football.
The USFL helped lead KaVontae back from the abyss and into stardom.
Turpin, a 25-year-old product of TCU, was a force both as a receiver and kick returner for the New Jersey Generals. He was a threat to score every time he touched the ball; the versatile Turpin was an explosive playmaker who helped the Generals become the league’s top-rated offense on their way to a 9-1 regular season.
KaVontae led the league in receiving yards (540) and Yards After Catch (316). He accomplished this despite being targeted only 53 times, well behind league-leader Lance Lenoir of Michigan (88 targets), who coincidentally has signed on with Cowboys’ rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, this summer.
Turpin is getting set to play another pro football playoff game this Monday for the Dallas Cowboys against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After playing in the USFL North semi-final last summer for New Jersey.
Turpin has been one of the NFL’s most dangerous kick and punt returners this season in Dallas. He’s averaged 24 yards per kick return through 17 games, for 508 yards total. Turpin also has 29 returns for 303 yards at a ten-yard average in the punt game.
Turpin, who returned two kicks for touchdowns in the preseason for Dallas, didn’t score during the regular season. However, teams have gone out of their way to limit his returns and avoid his 4.2 speed strategically.
Opposing coaches have shown their respect for Turpin’s ability through fear. And now Turpin’s fellow players and peers have delivered the ultimate respect by voting him as the very best at his position. Few players have had the type of welcome in the NFL that KaVontae Turpin has had.
Turpin’s rise is another example of the value of spring pro football leagues. He’s setting the standard and dream for other players in the position he was in before 2022 to follow.
