Turner ran only one 40. He took part in only two drills, the vertical and broad jumps. That far from offended Burks.
"I loved it," Burks says. "Shows you the confidence."
That demeanor also told Burks that Turner was intelligent. "Not necessarily what he says, but how he carries himself … Handling his business."
The business of the Bengals in those 18 minutes is to get more than a feel for the prospect, but a sense. Potts, who chairs the interviews, usually leads off with questions about background. The position coach gets the bulk of the meeting (10 minutes maybe?) and leads a discussion about the player's knowledge and view of the game.
Burks came armed with seven of Turner's plays from the 2022 season.
Three good ones.
A remarkable recovery pass defensed after he initially got beat on a long ball against Illinois. (Even before that monstrous 40 time, that's the snap that convinced Burks that Turner had the skills any DB coach would want.)
There was also a batted ball while inside at nickel against Purdue. Plus, cutting off a Michigan State deep route when he angled his coverage into the sidelines.
Burks had him walking through the snaps, and it was clear Turner had the brains with his recall of the unfolding play. Burks feels it's imperative to leave interviews with an idea of how aware the player is of his ability, and if he knows what he has to work on. Already building a foundation to coach him, Burks believes.
And, if he's arrogant enough. When Turner walked him through the play in the slot, it was music to Burks' ears.
"He basically said he would want to play anywhere the best receiver plays," Burks says. "He was adamant he was a man-to-man corner. That's what I want to know. Is he a man-to-man corner, or just some other corner?"
And he showed Turner four bad plays that included two missed tackles. "Yes, Turner said. "Have to work on it." He also showed him two deep completions, the last one a contested ball Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud fired to first-rounder Emeka Egbuka.
"I did whatever I could to stop the receiver," Turner told Burks. Burks told him, "The receiver had nothing to do with that ball … I basically showed you a clip where you can run with anybody in the world." The guys who get paid are the ones who make plays on the ball. Turner nodded.
Burks felt Turner understood. His 18 pass breakups, second best in the league last season, back him up.
It was just ten minutes, but Burks knew he'd love to have him. Because in those ten minutes, "He oozed with confidence. You want to coach the most confident guy in the combine."
For the next year and a half, Burks got to know DJ Turner. "Great guy. Could coach him for the rest of my life."
There were glimpses of Drago, that guy in the room in Indy. Until the second game of his second season, when Drago stayed for good. When Turner's first NFL interception against Chiefs magic man Patrick Mahomes was wiped out by penalty. He went ballistic and has been pretty much Drago ever since on game day.
"That's the guy I saw," says Burks of a night in Indy the Bengals met Drago.