EAGAN, Minn. — Did you know Dallas Turner and Harrison Smith started their football careers the same year?
Wait … what? That can't be right.
Sorry, let me back up. Harry the Hitman began his NFL career the same year Turner first picked up the pigskin.
Turner, prepping for his second pro season, spoke with Twin Cities media members following Minnesota's second mandatory minicamp practice.
"I realized that Harry's first year, when he got drafted [in 2012], it was my first year playing football — when I was 8," Turner said. "You've gotta take stuff like that and really humble yourself."
Turner acknowledged the difficulty of going from the college ranks — where he was an Alabama team captain and consensus First-Team All-American — to an NFL rookie learning from more experienced teammates.
"There's a lot of stuff you can learn from that first year, no matter how it goes, just by being around the team, the company you're around," he said. "I feel like that was the biggest lesson and, like, the biggest turning point of that year — just being around the dudes and observing. Listening. Going from college … you're in a whole different ball game [now]."
The 22-year-old last season played in 16 games and totaled 300 defensive snaps, recording 20 tackles, 3.0 sacks, three tackles for loss, one pass defensed and an interception.
Turner showed his skills again this week, flashing his speed and instincts in a play during Tuesday's practice.
Lining up as an off-ball linebacker, Turner fell back into coverage and tracked the pass from QB Sam Howell to rookie TE Ben Yurosek, knocking the ball away at right time.
"I love it. Absolutely love it," Jonathan Allen said post-practice, grinning broadly.
The veteran defensive lineman joined Minnesota as a free agent this spring and is thrilled to share a defensive front with a fellow Crimson Tide alum.
"He's one of my 'Bama boys, so I'm excited to play with him," Allen said. "We haven't put the pads on yet, so I'm still trying to get to know everybody, learn everybody — but knowing who he played for in college really lets me know everything I need to know about him."
Turner is looking forward to learning all he can from Allen, just as he did last season (and will continue to do) from the likes of Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard. He also credited former Vikings outside linebacker Pat Jones II with taking him under his wing during the 2024 campaign.
"I feel like it's all played a big role in my development," Turner said.
He told reporters he's "way ahead" at this point in the offseason from where he was 12 months ago, both physically and mentally.
"I feel pretty strong," said Turner, who's boasted a bulked-up frame this spring. "Been in the lab a lot during the offseason, having the opportunity and time to see what I really need to work on physically and attack it head-on. … I've been putting in a lot of extra time, and it's starting to show."
Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores also has noticed Turner's growth in multiple facets.
Flores also echoed Turner's comments about transitioning from college to the pros.
"Nobody talks about that rookie season where you're in college and then you're training and then it's, you know, combine and then it's the draft and then you jump right in and, you know, new everything: new house, new ride to work, new everything," Flores said. "So he's much more comfortable, I would say, in this environment. He knows what the expectations are. He's got a high standard for himself, and that's a great place to start.
"But he also knows he's got to work a significant amount to get to that standard – I think all of our guys do," Flores continued. "And he's come in and really gotten into a routine that, I think, is going to allow him to put his best foot forward and put himself in position to have the type of season that he wants to have and the type of season we want him to have. So [it's] all positive with him."
Looking ahead at training camp, preseason and his second regular season, Turner is excited for what's to come, while also refraining from putting too much pressure on himself.
"I don't really want to put any expectations on Year 2. I just want to let the work speak for itself. You know, going into Year 2 with all the knowledge and tools I have now," he said. "[Primarily] being the best Viking I possibly could be, fitting [in] our defense in whatever way they need me to. Just being a productive member of the building."
