As a freshman last season, Maryland slot receiver DJ Turner struggled to get onto the field and get noticed, playing behind seniors Levern Jacobs and Teldrick Morgan while being overshadowed by a number of other freshmen, including running back and former DeMatha teammate Lorenzo Harrison III.
Turner caught two passes in the six games in which he appeared, the first for 19 yards in a season-opening win over Howard and the other for just 3 in a blowout loss at Michigan in early November. In the days after the game in Ann Arbor, Turner received unwanted attention as his future as a Terp became clouded.