UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 5, 2026

Ja'Kyrian Turner

Press Conference

Pitt 59, Miami (OH) 14

Q. Boosie, there were lots of questions about the depth of the running backs, so how cool was that for you to see?

JA’KYRIAN TURNER: It was very exciting. Just watching them all fall camp just ball and go out there and execute out there on the field today, it means a lot to see all my guys out there just executing and doing what they love to do.

Q. It sounds like the offense really performed well during training camp. I guess how exciting was it to just show it in a game against someone else for the first time?

JA’KYRIAN TURNER: It was awesome. You're just grinding for six months and the whole of training camp, just grinding each and every day getting better, trying to do what we do to make the team win. It was exciting to just go out there and execute and do what we do.

Q. Watching Mason put up that type of performance, obviously you guys know he has it in him from last year, but what was it like seeing that in week one?

JA’KYRIAN TURNER: It was amazing. We already knew what Mason is capable of, just going out there and doing everything he does, just being more of a leader, more of a threat, just doing his job, doing what he's got to do to make the team win. Everything he does, he just has great passion, and he's just dominant at everything he does.

Q. Are you surprised you were so open on that touchdown pass?

JA’KYRIAN TURNER: Not really. They was bailing, and I just seen them bailing, and I just broke out to the field. It was kind of surprising though because I was too open.

Q. On that play, Mason scrambled a little bit, he stepped up in the pocket, and he did that a number of times today. With him, do you guys have to always be ready to give him that outlet if he does scramble around and step up like that?

JA’KYRIAN TURNER: Yes, sir. It's a scrimmage that we work on in practice sometimes. When he steps up in the pocket, we just go up the field, or if he's coming outside the pocket, we just come back to the ball. So we worked on it numerous times in practice, and you just get better at it each and every day.

Q. What did you see from Justin Cook on that 50-yard touchdown?

JA’KYRIAN TURNER: I seen what I see he do every day in training camp. He does that every day in training camp. He's just explosive to be the guy he is and go out there and do the things he loves to do, just play football and play fast.

Q. What's the impact for an offensive player when a quarterback spreads it around like Mason did today?

JA’KYRIAN TURNER: It's very impactful because defense doesn't know what to do. With the threat of Mason, him spreading the offense, you've got numerous guys he can get the ball to, he's got numerous playmakers that he can get the ball to, so it's plenty of ways to get the defense going and the offense going more plays.

Q. You guys have four straight games here to start the season. What does it mean you get to stick around in front of the home crowd in the early goings?

JA’KYRIAN TURNER: It means a lot. We've just got to take every advantage and take every opportunity that we get and just lock the gates, like Coach Duz says. So everybody that comes here, we just have to lock the gates and just keep our head down and just keep grinding.

Q. How big is it to be a part of the passing game, not just carry the ball?

JA’KYRIAN TURNER: I mean, it means a lot. We can just get the ball into space and do what we have to do, just be a playmaker.

Q. I asked Mason, did you know Antonio was deep from 58?

JA’KYRIAN TURNER: No, sir.

Q. You've never seen him kick a 58-yarder?

JA’KYRIAN TURNER: Oh, in practice? Yeah, I have, actually. He does that every time, so I just knew it was money. I knew it.