The MVP of the USFL, KaVontae Turpin, made his regular season NFL debut last night. The shifty speedster impressed in preseason with the Dallas Cowboys. He took two kicks to the house against Los Angeles, which earned him a spot on the roster.
THIS IS NOT A DRILL. KaVontae Turpin did it AGAIN. I'm speechless. There's really not much left to say. The #USFL MVP is simply out of this world.
Are we ready for one more shout of jubilation? Okay, cool. SAY IT WITH ME…SPRING. FOOTBALL. MATTERS!pic.twitter.com/9uk5SJxOf4
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenMI) August 21, 2022
Turpin is now going to serve as the Cowboys main kick and punt returner. For the first time in his career, KaVontae played in a regular season NFL game, as Dallas fell short 19-3 versus Tampa Bay.
During the lopsided matchup, Turpin returned four kicks for a total of 77 yards. He averaged 19.3 yards per return, with a long of 22 yards. KaVontae also returned one punt for a total of three yards.
.@USFL MVP @KaVontaeTurpin with the kickoff return tonight on #SNF.#USFL #Cowboys#SundayNightFootball #TBvsDAL pic.twitter.com/k4oe23bs42
— The Markcast® (@the_markcast) September 12, 2022
As the NFL season continues, expect Turpin to feel more comfortable as a returner in the future. This was his first time playing on the biggest stage in the world, and he can only go up from here. On top of that, he will likely become more involved with the offense as they figure out where – and when – to use him.
KaVontae Turpin & The USFL
Of course, we are all familiar with his USFL story by now. After playing in almost every alternative league imaginable, Turpin went to the USFL in 2022 – and dominated. He deservingly won MVP, making plays all season long for the New Jersey Generals.
The USFL's MVP just signed a THREE YEAR deal with the Dallas Cowboys.
Spring. Football. Matters. I've watched @KaVontaeTurpin hop from league to league. Dominated in the FCF, TSL, ELF, and the #USFL. Now, the whole world is going to know his name. pic.twitter.com/MYCaGrQyxH
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenMI) July 28, 2022
He led all receivers with 540 yards, while earning All-USFL honors as a WR/specialist. In the postseason against Philadelphia, Turpin put the team on top late with an unbelievable punt return.
THE MVP WITH THE GO-AHEAD TOUCHDOWN ‼️🏆
What a run by @KaVontaeTurpin
📺: @FOXSports pic.twitter.com/LNUy5c5iit
— New Jersey Generals (@USFLGenerals) June 25, 2022
Due to the opportunity, and national exposure, that the USFL provided him with, KaVontae Turpin’s career was forever changed. Now, he’s playing an important role for the Dallas Cowboys – and we’re excited to see what’s next.
Did you enjoy watching KaVontae Turpin in his regular season debut? How has his USFL journey impacted his career moving forward? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
