Sean McVay Inspires Kobie Turner’s Richmond Commencement Speech

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May 16, 2026 - 19:08

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Sean McVay Inspires Kobie Turner’s Richmond Commencement Speech

Los Angeles Rams defensive end Kobie Turner delivered an inspiring commencement speech to the University of Richmond’s Class of 2026 on May 10. Turner graduated from Richmond in 2021 before transferring to Wake Forest as a graduate student in 2022.

Turner started his career at Richmond as a walk-on then earned a scholarship and was named the CAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. Turner studied music and mathematics at Richmond while also singing baritone in the school’s Schola Cantorum choir.

Since then, Turner has played three seasons with the Rams after the franchise drafted him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He is a team captain and crucial part of the Rams’ defensive line.

Dec 7, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Kobie Turner (91) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

How Sean McVay Inspired Turner’s Speech

Turner said lessons he has learned from Rams head coach Sean McVay inspired part of his commencement speech. He said McVay always delivers powerful messages during team meetings.

“I thought about, obviously, a lot of the messaging that we have here, a lot of what Sean says, like he gives a good message every single team meeting. So I used a lot of what’s really stuck with me from here,” Turner said after the speech, per the Rams’ official team website.

Dec 18, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay looks on in the first half against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

During his speech, Turner asked approximately 840 graduates a question that McVay has asked the Rams about how their habits align with their goals.

“My head coach Sean McVay posed a question to our team once before, ‘Are the habits that you have today in alignment with the visions and the goals for yourself tomorrow?’ Ask yourself, ‘What do my habits look like? What road do they lead me down?’ And if they don’t align, you either have to change your habits or change your goals,” Turner said.

Turner will continue working with McVay next season, as he enters the final season of his four-year rookie contract with the Rams.

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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