I did a trade with Jake, a friend and member of the autograph group I run on Facebook. I had recently gotten a Jamaal Charles autograph in person on a card he needed, but I liked some of the Action Packed autographs that he was offering up, so I switched him for Rodney Peete and Mel Gray on their cards, knowing that they were not great signers, that they were set needs, and that he had probably gotten this through a paid signing.
CARDS: Action Packed 1990, Pro Set 1989, Pro Set 1990 ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o Home SENT: 5/14 RECEIVED: 6/6 (22 DAYS)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
JoJo Townsell played WR and KR for UCLA from 1979-1982.
He accounted for 1972 total yards from scrimmage, 20 TDs receiving, 1 rushing TD, and 1 kick return TD.
Townsell was selected in the 3rd round of the 1983 Draft by the New York Jets, but opted to play in the USFL instead for LA.
As a receiver, his best season came in 1984 when JoJo caught 58 passes, for 889 yards and 7 TDs for the Express.
He moonlighted as a returner with 8 PR for 33 yards, and 1 KR for 8 yards.
After 3 seasons in LA, Townsell joined the Jets in 1985, where he was used primarily as a return man.
His moment in the sun came however in 1989, when he caught 45 passes for 787 yards and 5 TDs.
Although he played with the team through 1991, he spent the final year of his career on IR.
Pro Set 1989, #309Pro Set 1990, #240
USFL
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
126
1992
15.8
16
82t
NFL
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
70
1119
16.0
5
63t
KR
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
98
2048
20.9
1
93t
PR
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
127
1360
10.7
2
91t
NOTES:
JoJo appears in the classic Nintendo game Tecmo Super Bowl. He also runs a youth foundation that promotes physical fitness, and supports recreational programs and amateur athletics.
Lonnie Turner took a very unique route to the WLAF after playing for Cal Poly Pomona under Roman Gabriel: He played in the USFL from 1983 to 1985. During that period he played one season each for LA (3 catches for 41 yards), Oklahoma (27 receptions for 399 yards and 2 TDs), and Denver (29 receptions for 388 yards). After brief stops with the Cardinals and later the Atlanta Falcons, he’d join the Arena football league, and play for Pittsburgh in 1988. Boasting experience in the Run N Shoot offense, Lonnie signed with the Lions in 1990, but was unable to make the squad. This however got him back onto the radar of the WLAF, and the New York- New Jersey Knights who were coached by former Lions offensive coordinator Mouse Davis.
Lonnie was selected in the WLAF supplemental draft by the Knights. A long in the tooth veteran at 30 years old, Lonnie was one of the oldest players on the team. He paid dividends in 1991, leading NY-NJ with 41 receptions (5th in league) for 629 yards (7th) and caught his only touchdown of the season versus the Montreal Machine. In 1992, Lonnie caught 36 passes for 437 yards and 2 TDs- including a 50 yarder.
With the WLAF reorganizing after the 1992 season, Turner packed his bags for a quick stop with the British Columbia Lions of the CFL in 1993. He posted 27 receptions for 420 yards and 2 TDs, 11 kick returns for 196 yards, and 38 punts for 270 yards. – As a pro, this represented his most productive season- but this was his first and last foray into the CFL.
A few years passed, and Lonnie appears again in the Arena Football League. This time he picks up in 1996 with the Tampa Bay Storm, and along with that 43 receptions for 576 yards and 9 TDs. He’d join the Nashville Kats in 1997 and play there through 1998. With the Kats in 1997 he’d have another solid season (35 receptions, 485 yards, 9 TDs, 28 kick returns, 460 yards, and 1 TD), and then close out his career playing football with one final season in Nashville with 20 receptions for 193 yards and 3 TDs, and 16 kick returns for 251 yards.
I have been tracking Lonnie for some time. With his unique and interesting playing history, I figured that he’d at least be on Wikipedia, but his trail is mysteriously cold. Even USFL fans couldn’t tell me where he was at. It didn’t help that there are actually other Lonnie Turners out there in the world who played and coached football, but after a lot of perseverance, I was able to find him coaching in Los Angeles. He’s apparently spent a lot of time at the high school level and has now climbed into the college ranks.
