Texas Football News

DENVER, CO --Scott Turner will add depth to the Broncos' secondary in 2004, his first full season with the team. He joined Denver as a free agent Oct. 14, 2003, and remained on its roster for the duration of the season.

Entering his ninth year, Turner also has played for Washington (1995-97) and San Diego (1998-01), totaling 91 total tackles (71 solo) with five interceptions in 101 games (3 starts) for his career. Turner began last season in Buffalo's training camp before being released. Before his stint with the Bills, he was out of football during the 2002 campaign. Following his three years with Washington, Turner was claimed off waivers by San Diego on Aug. 31, 1998. At Illinois, he was the fastest player on the Illini and started every game as a cornerback in 1994. Washington selected Turner in the seventh round (226th overall) of the 1995 NFL Draft.

2003: Turner played on special teams in nine games after signing with the Broncos Oct. 14 when linebacker Ian Gold was placed on injured reserve (knee). He was inactive in his first game as a Bronco in Wk. 7 at Min. (10/19), then saw his first action a week later at Balt. (10/26) and had one special teams stop. Turner added a special teams tackle vs. S.D. (11/16) and another one at Oak. (11/30). He recorded two special teams tackles vs. K.C. (12/7) and another one vs. Cle. (12/14). Turner played in his 100th game at Ind. (12/21) and recorded a pair of special teams tackles. He saw action on special teams in the Broncos' AFC Wild Card game at Ind. (1/4).

2002: Turner was out of football after being released by the San Diego Chargers.

2001: Turner signed with San Diego for the final four games of the year, and played in all four, starting in the finale vs. Seattle (12/30), and recorded two total tackles on defense.

2000: Turner saw action in all 16 games with two starts for San Diego, finishing the season with eight tackles, one interception and one pass defensed. He was also one of the team's top cover men on special teams, finishing the season with nine solo tackles. Turner started the season opener at right cornerback in place of injured DeRon Jenkins at Oakland (9/3) and again started in Week 3 at Kansas City (9/17). He recorded a season-high five solo tackles in Week 2 vs. New Orleans (9/10) and registered his first career interception return for touchdown when he stepped in front of a Gus Frerotte pass, returning it 75 yards for a score at Denver (11/19).

1999: Turner saw action in 15 games with San Diego, serving as one of the team's top "gunners" on special teams coverage units, recording nine solo tackles and one fumble recovery. He also added eight tackles while seeing action as the third corner in nickel and dime coverages. Turner opened the year with a team-high four tackles and one fumble recovery on special teams in the opener at Cincinnati (9/19), and had a season-high three defensive tackles vs. Chicago (11/21).

1998: After being claimed by the Chargers off waivers from Washington on Aug. 31, 1998, Turner played in all 16 games and recorded one start. He finished the season with seven solo tackles, one interception, one sack, one forced fumble and one pass defensed. He also ranked second on the team with 10 special teams tackles and recorded his first interception with the Chargers in a 38-37 win vs. Kansas City (11/22). Making his first career start, Turner had three tackles and one sack at Seattle (12/13).

1997: Seeing action in nine games with Redskins, Turner participated in 150 of Washington's 431 special teams plays. He had his season shortened by a pair of ankle sprains and finished the year with seven tackles on special teams and one pass defensed on defense. After being sidelined for the first five weeks of the season with an ankle sprain, Turner returned in Week 6 against the Cowboys to contribute on special teams, and saw action in nine consecutive games after that. Against the Rams in Week 13, he totaled three tackles on special teams. After suffering an ankle sprain before Week 15, Turner was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.

1996: Turner recorded a career-high two interceptions and 31 total tackles while playing in all 16 games for Washington. He also recorded 10 tackles on special teams and scored his first NFL touchdown—vs. Arizona (12/15), after recovering a muffed punt in the end zone. Following that performance, Turner recorded an interception in the Redskins’ victory over Dallas in the last game at RFK Stadium in Week 16. He also had an interception in Week 3 against the Giants and recorded a season-high six tackles in Week 5 against the Jets.

1995: Turner saw action in all 16 games as rookie and finished the season with a career-high 33 tackles. In Week 7 against Arizona, he recorded his first career sack and forced one fumble in addition to recording three tackles and one pass defensed. The following week against Detroit, he recorded a career-high seven tackles and his first career interception against Carolina Week 16.

COLLEGE: A four-year letterman at Illinois, Turner started every game at cornerback as a senior in 1994 recording two interceptions. He shared the team's special teams Player of Year award and was the fastest player on the Illini roster. Making a successful transition from offense to defense as a junior, Turner moved from split end to cornerback, shuffling back and forth from offense to defense then back to offense as a freshman. He opened his freshman year moving from wide receiver to cornerback, then was moved back to wide receiver when injuries hurt that unit, catching four passes for 43 yards and returning four kickoffs for 55 yards.

PERSONAL: Eric Scott Turner was an outstanding student and standout football player for J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson, Texas, before moving on to the University of Illinois. He earned his bachelor's degree in speech communication before the start of his final collegiate football season at Illinois and needs one more class to obtain his master's degree in human resource management. Turner was the Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Freshman of Year in 1991 while earning conference 400-meter sprint champion twice. His best 400-meter time was 45.6, and in 1993, he was part of a first place 4x400 meter relay team in the USA vs. Great Britain track meet. Turner also anchored the 4x400 meter U.S. Gold Medal-relay team in the World University Games in 1993. This past offseason, he was an NFL-Congressional Intern for Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) in Washington. Turner and former San Diego Chargers teammate Terrell Fletcher attended a special assembly in Littleton, Colo., for students of Columbine High School with 40 other professional athletes from around country during the 1999 offseason. His wife’s name is Robin. He was born Feb. 26, 1972, in Richardson, Texas.

August 31, 2004

Member Texas Sports Writers Association, Football Writers of America Association