Charles Turner, C LSU: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Turner was a three-star athlete recruit from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. in the class of 2019

LSU center Charles Turner is an under-the-radar prospect who is off to a hot start in 2023. Turner could quietly challenge for one of the top spots among centers in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Visit my Twitter account @Sam_Teets33 for more opinions on prospects, clips, and the latest football content.

Charles Turner, C LSU: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt senior center from Canton, Ohio

Background: Turner was a three-star athlete recruit from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. in the class of 2019. He was the No. 557 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 463 for On3.com. Turner was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked four-star recruit for ESPN with an 80 grade out of 100. He attended IMG Academy for his final two years of high school, leading the program to a 16-1 record during those seasons. At The Opening Regional in 2018, Turner ran a 5.54 40-yard dash and a 4.76-second shuttle. He also jumped 26 inches in the vertical. Turner measured in with 9.75-inch hands and a 6'2.9" frame at the 2019 All-American Bowl. He only weighed 242 pounds as a high school senior. As an undersized lineman, Turner redshirted as a true freshman at LSU in 2019. He graduated in May of 2023 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies.

Injuries & Off-Field: Had season-ending surgery for a torn labrum in 2021, missed two games in 2022, missed spring practices in 2023

Awards: N/A

Pros: Minor experience at left tackle, right tackle, and left guard in addition to center, five penalties committed in 2022 were all in his first two games, completely rebuilt frame in college, good arm length for a center, some low snaps but mostly accurate, quick out of his stance, wins the leverage battle, digs hands into defender’s pads, high level reps when his hands land first, hand fighting deters longer-limbed defenders, quick to survey threats and redirect to secondary targets, plays with a wide base at contact, knows how to attack and wash out defenders in a half-man relationship, stayed in front of Nazir Stackhouse’s (2022) spin move, plenty of positive reps vs. Nazir Stackhouse in pass pro (2022), examples of re-anchoring, flashes of nasty finishes, keeps legs driving in the vertical run game, disruptive force at the second level

Cons: Possible injury concerns, enters 2023 with one year of starting experience, center-only prospect, lower body still on the lean side, arm length allows some defenders to get the initial punch, some waist bending, not twitchy, lacks the grip strength and arm length to sustain blocks, footwork breaks down and narrows his base, feet look heavy at times, response to stunts is sometimes delayed, too many reps where he blocks nobody in pass pro because there’s no one on his nose, allowed Jalen Carter A-gap penetration multiple times (2022), no answer for Jalen Carter’s explosiveness and power (2022), strength will be tested by NFL nose tackles, heavy punches knock him backward, difficulty with speed to power, ducks his head and lunges for extra power, pushed around by powerful clubs, pushed into the backfield on a run play by Nazir Stackhouse (2022), struggles to execute long pulls, some lunging in the running game leads to missed blocks

Overview: Turner gained minor experience at left tackle, right tackle, and left guard during his time at LSU but primarily plays center. He completely rebuilt his frame in college after graduating from high school at roughly 240 pounds. Turner possesses good arm length for a center, but defenders still out-reach him and land the initial punch. The redshirt senior deals with some low snaps, but he’s mostly accurate. He’s quick out of his stance and wins the leverage battle. Turner fires his hands into the defender’s pads and posts quality wins when his punches land first. His hand fighting sometimes deters longer-limbed defenders, but he needs to continue developing in this area. The Ohio native is quick to survey threats and redirect to secondary targets, but his response to stunts is sometimes delayed. Turner plays with a wide base at contact and knows how to attack and wash out defenders in a half-man relationship. He posted multiple wins against Georgia’s Nazir Stackhouse in pass protection (2022) but had no answers for Jalen Carter’s explosiveness and power. Turner surrendered A-gap penetration to Carter multiple times, highlighting his questionable play strength and heavy feet. There are some examples of Turner re-anchoring against power, but his strength will be tested by NFL nose tackles. Heavy punches, club moves, and speed to power drive Turner backward. He occasionally ducks his head and lunges forward while trying to generate maximum power. Stackhouse pushed Turner into the backfield on a run play (2022). The center keeps his legs driving in the vertical run game and is a disruptive force at the second level, but he doesn’t regularly displace linemen. His lower body is still on the lean side, and he suffers from some waist bending. Turner lacks the grip strength and arm length to sustain blocks consistently. His footwork breaks down and narrows his base. There are too many plays when Turner is indecisive and doesn’t put a body on any defenders. He lacks the mobility to execute long pulls and lunges in the running game, leading to missed blocks. The former three-star recruit’s expanding injury history will require examination.

Overall, 2022 was a tale of two tapes for Turner. He was excellent against Alabama but looked outmatched against Georgia. In the worst case scenario, Turner is physically tapped out and doesn’t have room to increase his play strength. In the best case scenario, another year of starting reps puts Turner in a position to challenge for one of the top spots among centers in the 2024 class.

Role & Scheme Fit: Center in an inside zone scheme

Round Projection: Fifth Round

Size: 6'4", 300 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 08-07-23