Many different facets can drive the reasoning behind a draft pick. It usually involves scouts and coaches pinpointing players they like on tape and placing them high on the board. However, other cases influence the process. One is workouts. Maybe the prospect delivers a stellar athletic showcase, convincing teams they have superstardom in their future. Another is a great interview. One area that doesn't get nearly enough attention is personal connections. This played a role in how the Chicago Bears landed on Shemar Turner in the 2025 draft.
Make no mistake. The Texas A&M defensive lineman earned his way to being a 2nd round pick. He's talented and a tireless worker. Yet the Bears may have been given extra incentive to pursue him thanks to the presence of Gervon Dexter. That shouldn't make sense. The two were never teammates in college. However, they do share one thing in common. Both were developed by veteran defensive line coach Sean Spencer, who worked with Dexter at Florida and then Turner at A&M.
He told the Big Pro Football Show that the two players are so much alike.
Good experiences with Dexter no doubt helped the Shemar Turner decision.
After all, Spencer has a lengthy legacy of producing good defensive linemen for the NFL. His long stint at Penn State led to future names like Carl Nassib, Austin Johnson, Anthony Zettel, Yetur Gross-Matos, and Micah Parsons all becoming quality pros. He has a sharp eye for what the good ones look like. His high praise of Shemar Turner echoes the same things he said about Dexter two years ago. The talent and work ethic are there. He will become a major contributor to the Bears if he gets the right setup to utilize his gifts properly. After watching Dexter's ascent last season, it is easy to get excited about the possibilities. This defensive line might be the grittiest the Bers have put together in a long time.
