If you’re lucky enough to be a prospect at punter in the NFL Combine, you’re going to be asked to partake in various drills and exercises that have little to do with your specific football skill of punting — like, well, the bench press.
But if you’re former Arizona State punter Michael Turk, the bench press is your time to shine apparently.
During Thursday’s NFL Combine workouts, Turk put up an astonishing 25 reps on the bench press, and nobody in the room — even the spotter — really saw that effort coming. According to Pro Football Reference, Turk’s 25 reps were the most by a punter since the site starting tracking the bench press in 2000.
PUNTER POWER.@ASUFootball punter Michael Turk puts up 25 reps on the bench press! #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/gI8sK8IjnT
— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2020
The spotter’s reaction, specifically, said it all. When Turk busted out the first reps at rapid speed, you can see the spotter’s eyebrows raise. Again, this is a punter! And sure, it really doesn’t make much sense for a punter to be benching — why not do the leg press? But fans were still impressed by the effort.
Turk told me he was doing the bench even if scouts might not care. I jokingly asked if he was going to drop 40 reps on Indy. He smiled and said, "Maybe." https://t.co/s7dqUiIjYG
— Justin Rogers (@Justin_Rogers) February 27, 2020
oh hell yeah baby https://t.co/aODkLZGocY
— Robby Kalland (@RKalland) February 27, 2020
It's gonna be wild when he blows a returner up next year https://t.co/0kegO6ZiAS
— Jay (@JayJeanius) February 27, 2020
That a freaking punter 😳😳😳 https://t.co/xScKpaSx9v
— HaitianNel🇭🇹🏁☘ (@ZoeNel617) February 27, 2020
Just gonna be strong for no reason. https://t.co/NoGcQGI9Jj
— Hi, I'm Jim. (@WhatsWithDude) February 27, 2020
All this guy does is kick why he bench so much 😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/UryO94eu2U
— 👺 (@skeeeup) February 27, 2020
And yes, Turk can punt too.
Already set an NCAA record in Week 1. 😎@ASUFootball's Michael Turk averaged 63.0 yards per punt– the longest being 75 yards, in the Sun Devils' 30-7 win over Kent State. pic.twitter.com/sxyihtapk6
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) August 30, 2019
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