2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Kobie Turner (DL – Wake Forest)

As the NFL season winds down, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. Here’s a look at Kobie Turner.

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Kobie Turner (DT – Wake Forest)

6’3” – 290 lbs.

Background:

Spent his first four seasons at Richmond, one of which was a redshirt season (2018). Was highly productive in his three seasons there, playing 361, 197, and 615 snaps; went 71-14.5-7.0 in 2019, 19-6.0-3.5 in 2020, and 54-10.5-4.0 in 2021 before transferring to Wake Forest, where this past season he put together a line of 38-10.0-2.0.

Positives:

Highly productive four-year starter who lined up on both ends of Wake Forest’s odd defensive fronts, but would occasionally shift over the opposing center. High-intensity player who stays active through the snap. Typically wins the leverage battle. Impressive contact balance for a smaller defensive lineman. Gets good extension with his arms to lock out opposing blockers. Pursues ball carriers with a strong motor. Suddenness allows him to threaten gaps, with the ability to skinny through and create disruption. Knows how to set up opposing blockers. Uses his hands better than most prospects, with his swim move being his go-to; does a nice job of varying his rush approach from snap to snap. Actively seeks out alternative lanes to the passer; also able to execute stunts and twists. Works in a promising spin counter. Gets his hands up to contest passing lanes. Even made the occasional drop into coverage on fire zone blitzes.

Negatives:

Fifth-year senior with only one year of play at a major program. Played mostly five-technique this past year, but is a little bit shorter than what teams usually look for at the position. Might be asked to gain some more weight at the next level, depending on what role he’s drafted for. Would like to see him work the bull rush a little bit more often; approach is a little bit toward the finesse end of the spectrum, without as much of a power element as some of his peers. Minor balance issues crop up when his intensity leads him to play out of control. Could play with more discipline in the run game.

Summary:

An active, high-effort defensive lineman who creates a lot of disruption because of his quickness, intensity, and impressive contact balance, he played mostly five-technique at Wake Forest, but looks more like a three-technique defensive tackle for an even front at the next level, preferably in a defense based around one-gap principles which can take advantage of his strengths as a prospect. Showed this past season that he could still make a big impact against a higher level of competition, significantly boosting his draft stock.

Projection: Round 3