Turner grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and attended Vestavia Hills High School. As a senior, he made 63 tackles with five interceptions.[1] Nick Saban visited shortly after Nolan's father passing to offer a guaranteed walk on spot. Turner initially intended to take the offer and play college football as a walk-on at Alabama, his father's alma mater, over offers from UAB and Troy.[2] He later committed to play at Clemson after receiving a late full scholarship offer from head coach Dabo Swinney, a former college teammate and roommate of his father's, after two safeties decommitted from the school.[3]
College career
Turner played college football at Clemson for six seasons and redshirted his true freshman season.[4] As a redshirt senior, he made 66 tackles with six tackles for loss and three interceptions and was named second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference and a second-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).[5] Turner decided to utilize the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes who played in the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic and return to Clemson for a sixth season.[6] He had 69 tackles with two tackles for loss, two sacks, three passes broken up, one interception, and a forced fumble in his final season.[7]
Turner signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2022.[9] He was waived on August 30, 2022 and signed to the practice squad the next day.[10][11] He was promoted to the active roster on October 27.[12] He was waived on December 5, and re-signed to the practice squad.[13] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 17, 2023.[14] He was waived on August 28, 2023.[15]