# Shemar Turner
**Shemar Turner** (pronounced shuh-MAAR) is an American professional football defensive lineman for the [Chicago Bears](https://www.edgepedia.org/chicago-bears) of the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league), drafted 62nd overall in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of [Texas A&M University](https://www.edgepedia.org/texas-a-and-m-university)[1](https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/shemar-turner/). He plays both defensive tackle and defensive end, a versatility that was a central part of his draft evaluation[2](https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/04/27/meet-chicago-bears-rookies-loveland-burden-trapilo-turner).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / hometown | DeSoto, Texas; age 23 as listed by NFL.com[3](https://www.nfl.com/players/shemar-turner/) |
| Physical profile | 6 ft 3 in, 293 lbs, 33 3/4-inch arms, 10 1/4-inch hands[3](https://www.nfl.com/players/shemar-turner/) |
| Draft | Second round, 62nd overall, Chicago Bears, 2025 NFL Draft[1](https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/shemar-turner/) |
| College | Texas A&M, 2021–24; 115 tackles, 10 sacks, 22.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles[1](https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/shemar-turner/) |
| Honors | Second-Team All-SEC (2023); Freshman All-SEC (2021)[1](https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/shemar-turner/) |
| NFL rookie season | Five games, six solo tackles, two tackles for loss; later placed on Reserve/Injured[1](https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/shemar-turner/) |
| High school | DeSoto High School (Texas), a program that also produced NFL players including linebacker Von Miller[1](https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/shemar-turner/) • [2](https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/04/27/meet-chicago-bears-rookies-loveland-burden-trapilo-turner) |
## College career at Texas A&M
Turner played four seasons at Texas A&M from 2021 to 2024 and finished with 115 tackles, 10 sacks, 22.5 tackles for loss, one pass defended, and three forced fumbles[1](https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/shemar-turner/). He earned Freshman All-[Southeastern Conference](https://www.edgepedia.org/southeastern-conference) honors in 2021 and Second-Team All-SEC honors in 2023[1](https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/shemar-turner/).
His statistical peak came as a junior in 2023, when he recorded 33 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks, his best season as a college pass rusher[4](https://www.fantasypros.com/2025/04/2025-nfl-draft-scouting-report-shemar-turner-dl-texas-am/). He started for three seasons: 14 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in a reserve role in 2021, 32 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss as a first-year starter in 2022, the 2023 junior peak, and 36 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks in 2024[4](https://www.fantasypros.com/2025/04/2025-nfl-draft-scouting-report-shemar-turner-dl-texas-am/).
**Positional versatility.** Across his college career Turner lined up at every spot along the defensive line, from nose tackle (0-technique) to stand-up edge rusher, and Texas A&M used him as both an interior defensive tackle on even fronts and a five-technique end on odd fronts[5](https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2024/06/25/shemar-turner-scouting-report-nfl-draft) • [4](https://www.fantasypros.com/2025/04/2025-nfl-draft-scouting-report-shemar-turner-dl-texas-am/).
## Recruitment and background
Turner attended DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Texas[1](https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/shemar-turner/). He was a consensus four-star recruit and a top-10 player in Texas according to 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN[6](https://steelersdepot.com/2025/02/2025-nfl-draft-scouting-report-texas-am-dl-shemar-turner/). In high school he was named First-team All-District in 2019 and District 7-6A Co-Defensive Sophomore of the Year, and his DeSoto teams twice went 9-3 and reached the second round of the Texas 6A playoffs[1](https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/shemar-turner/). The school has also produced NFL players including star linebacker [Von Miller](https://www.edgepedia.org/von-miller)[2](https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/04/27/meet-chicago-bears-rookies-loveland-burden-trapilo-turner).
## Draft evaluation
Scouting reports agreed on the core profile: a quick, explosive first step, alignment versatility, good length and mass, and strong play as an edge setter who forces runs back inside, balanced against an underdeveloped pass-rush repertoire, high pad level, and inconsistent finishing[5](https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2024/06/25/shemar-turner-scouting-report-nfl-draft). NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein described a three-year starter with "tweener" measurables but excellent musculation and lean mass[7](https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/onsi/news/2025-nfl-draft-grading-the-chicago-bears-selection-shemar-turner-in-2nd-round).
Production metrics told a mixed story. Among the 350 FBS defensive tackles who played at least 300 snaps in 2024, Turner ranked 280th in overall [Pro Football Focus](https://www.edgepedia.org/pro-football-focus) grade, 206th in run defense, and 222nd in pass rushing, and some analysts viewed him as a reach at pick 62 because of his injury history, tweener profile, and unpredictable playing style[8](https://ontapsportsnet.com/nfl/chicago-bears/2025-nfl-draft-scouting-report-shemar-turner/).
Comparisons varied by evaluator. Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball likened Turner's style to the later-career version of [Jadeveon Clowney](https://www.edgepedia.org/jadeveon-clowney), a physical run defender without prolific sack totals, while [Bleacher Report](https://www.edgepedia.org/bleacher-report)'s scouting department used Sebastian Joseph-Day as its pro comparison[9](https://walterfootball.com/scoutingreports2025sturner.php) • [10](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10150663-shemar-turner-nfl-draft-2025-scouting-report-for-texas-am-dl).
## Chicago Bears
The Bears selected Turner 62nd overall in the second round on April 25, 2025, one of three second-round picks that also included wide receiver Luther Burden III and offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo[1](https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/shemar-turner/) • [11](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TurnSh00.htm). He signed his rookie contract along with the other two second-round selections[1](https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/shemar-turner/). General manager Ryan Poles, head coach [Ben Johnson](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-johnson-american-football-coach), and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen were all part of the draft-night call; Allen's scheme was cited as a good fit for a lineman who can play both tackle and end[2](https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/04/27/meet-chicago-bears-rookies-loveland-burden-trapilo-turner).
His rookie 2025 season was shortened by injury. He played in five games, recording six tackles, all solo, including two tackles for loss, and was later placed on the Reserve/Injured list[1](https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/shemar-turner/). He wears number 95[3](https://www.nfl.com/players/shemar-turner/).
## Playing style
Turner's game is built on quickness and strength at the point of attack. Evaluators credit him with a fast first step, the functional strength to set the edge and force runs inside, and a rip move that gains leverage on blockers when rushing from the edge[5](https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2024/06/25/shemar-turner-scouting-report-nfl-draft) • [9](https://walterfootball.com/scoutingreports2025sturner.php). The recurring criticisms are that he plays with high pad level, does not use his hands well, and needs a broader set of pass-rushing moves, which is why several reports projected him as a solid run defender and rotational contributor rather than a high-volume sack producer[5](https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2024/06/25/shemar-turner-scouting-report-nfl-draft) • [9](https://walterfootball.com/scoutingreports2025sturner.php).
## References
1. [Shemar Turner player biography, ChicagoBears.com](https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/shemar-turner/)
2. [Fun facts about the Chicago Bears' 2025 draft picks, Axios Chicago](https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/04/27/meet-chicago-bears-rookies-loveland-burden-trapilo-turner)
3. [Shemar Turner Stats, News and Video, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/shemar-turner/)
4. [2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Shemar Turner, FantasyPros](https://www.fantasypros.com/2025/04/2025-nfl-draft-scouting-report-shemar-turner-dl-texas-am/)
5. [Shemar Turner Scouting Report, The Draft Network](https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2024/06/25/shemar-turner-scouting-report-nfl-draft)
6. [2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Texas A&M DL Shemar Turner, Steelers Depot](https://steelersdepot.com/2025/02/2025-nfl-draft-scouting-report-texas-am-dl-shemar-turner/)
7. [Grading the Chicago Bears' selection of DT Shemar Turner, Sports Illustrated](https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/onsi/news/2025-nfl-draft-grading-the-chicago-bears-selection-shemar-turner-in-2nd-round)
8. [2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Shemar Turner, On Tap Sports Net](https://ontapsportsnet.com/nfl/chicago-bears/2025-nfl-draft-scouting-report-shemar-turner/)
9. [2025 NFL Scouting Report: Shemar Turner, WalterFootball](https://walterfootball.com/scoutingreports2025sturner.php)
10. [Shemar Turner NFL Draft 2025: Scouting Report for Texas A&M DL, Bleacher Report](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10150663-shemar-turner-nfl-draft-2025-scouting-report-for-texas-am-dl)
11. [Shemar Turner Stats, Pro-Football-Reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TurnSh00.htm)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Defensive tackles › Active defensive tackles*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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