Vikings pick Alabama LB Dallas Turner in Round 1 of 2024 NFL draft. What you need to know

The Minnesota Vikings selected Alabama LB Dallas Turner with the No. 17 in the 2024 NFL Draft. Turner took over for Will Anderson as Alabama’s most dynamic pass rusher last season and delivered an outstanding campaign. He’s started for two full seasons at Alabama and part of another as a freshman in 2021. Here’s everything you need to know about Turner.

Dallas Turner scouting report

Turner is a speedy edge rusher with a very quick first step who has several advanced pass rush moves and can also pressure the QB with bull rush. He’s been a staple of the Crimson Tide pass rush for two and a half seasons, much of which was spent opposite Will Anderson, who was the No.3 overall pick last year. He steadily improved as a run defender throughout his college career, but it’s his ability to get to the quarterback that makes him a big-time prize in the 2024 NFL draft. Like some of the best edge rushers, Turner plays with a mean streak, but over the course of his career, he let his emotions get the best of him at times, drew the occasional personal foul, and caught some criticism for it. He’ll be expected to be an immediate contributor as a pass rusher, and has the athleticism and skill to do just that.

From NFL plays to college sports scores, all the top sports news you need to know every day.

Dallas Turner height, weight

Turner, who is from a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and went to St. Thomas Aquinas high school, is 6-3 and 247 pounds.

Dallas Turner college stats

During the 2023 season for Alabama, Turner had 53 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He racked up 32.5 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks during his college career.

Dallas Turner highlights

Turner was a consensus first-team All-American and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. In a critical win over LSU, Turner deflected a pass that resulted in an interception by fellow draft prospect Terrion Arnold. In the same game, he knocked Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels out of the game for concussion protocol on a QB hit that resulted in a roughing the passer penalty, but not targeting. His most productive game came in a home win over Ole Miss in which he recorded two sacks and a forced fumble. He flashed an impressive bull rush for a sack of Georgia’s Carson Beck in the SEC Championship Game. Turner had a stretch of six games, including five SEC games, in which he recorded at least half a sack each game.

Dallas Turner NFL combine, pro day measurables

Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner (LB26) works out during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Turner ran a blazing-fast 4.46 40-yard dash at the combine in Indianapolis to help solidify his draft stock. He also ran a 1.54 split (10-yard dash) with a 40.5-inch vertical jump and a 10’7″ broad jump. He added a few pounds after the combine, weighing in above 250 at Alabama Pro Day, and in bench press testing there, he repped 225 pounds 20 times.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vikings pick Alabama LB Dallas Turner in Round 1 of 2024 NFL draft. What you need to know