Gators double up, adding punter Tommy Townsend

Football

0

Image Credit: ESPNI

In addition to starting fall camp on Thursday, the Florida Gators released an updated roster that included a couple notable changes and additions. Primary among them was the name Tommy Townsend, a redshirt freshman punter who just so happens to be the younger brother of redshirt junior P Johnny Townsend.

Tommy Townsend, who just transferred into Florida this summer after spending his true freshman season at Tennessee (where he took a redshirt), is a U.S. Army All-American who averaged 43 yards per punt at Boone High School.

He was rated the No. 3 punter in the Class of 2015 by Kohl’s (a professional specialist camp), which refers to him on its website as a “great prospect” with solid “leg speed” who moved the ball consistently down the field and can achieve 5.0-second hang times with the ball. 247Sports rated Townsend a three-star prospect and the No. 7-ranked player at his position.

It is unknown at this time whether Townsend is on scholarship or a walk-on to the program, though as a transfer he is expected to sit out the 2016 season due to NCAA rules.

Johnny Townsend, a Ray Guy Award semifinalist in 2015, returns as the starter with no primary backup behind him on the depth chart. Townsend was a special teams weapon for the Gators last season who averaged third nationally and first in the SEC averaging 45.4 yards per punt.