2013 Gator Class #28: Punter Johnny Townsend, Boone HS, Orlando, FL

[GATORAZ]

2013 Gator Recruiting Class #28.
P/K Johnny Townsend 6-2 200 ***
Boone High School
Orlando, Florida
2.7.2013 Signed Letter of Intent

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GatorZone Football ‏@GatorZoneFB
#Gators have a late addition to the 2013 signing class, as we've received an NLI from punter Johnny Townsend http://bit.ly/11GjDzZ

Army All-American Punter was previously committed to tOSU.

[diehardgator1]

Originally Posted by GATORAZ

GatorZone Football ‏@GatorZoneFB
#Gators have a late addition to the 2013 signing class, as we've received an NLI from punter Johnny Townsend http://bit.ly/11GjDzZ

Is one of the top punters in the nation

Boone punter Johnny Townsend signs with Florida over Ohio State


By Chris Hays | Orlando Sentinel


3:23 p.m. EST, February 7, 2013

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Orlando Boone High punter Johnny Townsend, after weighing numerous options, has decided to stay close to home and has signed with the Florida Gators.

Townsend, one of the top punters in the nationa who was a U.S. Army All-American, was committed since August to go to Ohio State, but given other opportunities, he decided he wanted to play football closer to family, said his father Clay Townsend on Thursday afternoon.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sport...0,5215452.post

[bleedorangeblue]

Reading his stats on Gatorzone, he looks like an awesome person as well as a great player.

Johnny Townsend
P • 200 • 6’2”
Orlando, FL
(Boone)
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Named a U.S. Army All-American…Won the 2013 Felix “Doc” Blanchard Award, given annually to the top player at the U.S. Army All-America game who best exemplifies the U.S. Army’s high standard of excellence in community service, education and athletic distinction…Named to the 2012 Florida Class 8A All-State team and played in the Central Florida All-Star Game…Averaged 44.6 yards per punt as a senior…Named 2012 First Team Punter Florida Athletic Coaches Association District 11(Orange and Osceola County Schools), All-District and to the Orlando Sentinel Super 60…Won the 2012 Nick Saban Punting Competition and 2012 Chas Henry All-American Kicking Camp Punting Competition…Also played free safety and quarterback in high school…Plays on the baseball team at Boone and was an All-Metro performer…Is an Eagle Scout…Member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society…Named Boone’s Homecoming King in 2012…Both parents, Clay and Susan Townsend, both attended Florida.

[Nicho]

Sounds good to me!

[haddon]

so thankful for the arrows that point him out in that highlight video. it's always hard to tell where the punter is lined up.

[Speedofsand]

Awesome. I mentioned him yesterday in the big thread when he delayed his announcement. I wonder if he will play baseball too? OSU ran out of room getting Clark, Bell, and another they didn't expect. I think they asked Townsend to wait until they got a roster spot. Good to see those 3 scholly reductions cost OSU something.

[GATORAZ]

Ohio State fans are mad they were going to have room for him

[GatorJeff]

I'm guessing redshirt next year? Kyle Christie has two more years.

[bovinagator]

He will be a star for us!!!

[gatorbait96]

Now we have our own Johnny Football!

[eastowest]

His nick name could be BOOM

[deathroll]

Here's a read and a half for you. Some pretty juicy stuff.

http://www.thebuckeyebattlecry.com/2...hnny-townsend/

[geauxgator1]

Originally Posted by deathroll

Here's a read and a half for you. Some pretty juicy stuff.

http://www.thebuckeyebattlecry.com/2...hnny-townsend/

Well, another jilted lover story, and what's worong with the rest of the world. WM's reputation grows as the "flipper".

[DieAGator]

Not fair imo to take him from OSU, their coach won 2 NCs for us and all that.

[Tebowism0823]

I love it. The hell with tosu and the hell with Urban!

[deathroll]

Originally Posted by geauxgator1

Well, another jilted lover story, and what's worong with the rest of the world. WM's reputation grows as the "flipper".

Actually no. This story is not about OSU being jilted, it's about how OSU failed to honor the scholarship offer that they had extended.

[PSGator66]

Great pick up! Having a solid punter is extremely important.

[lurkingator]

I hope it was intentional that Muschamp snatched one away from Meyer after he did the same to us with Clark. And I think it will hurt OSU more than it will hurt us.

[gator07]

Originally Posted by deathroll

Here's a read and a half for you. Some pretty juicy stuff.

http://www.thebuckeyebattlecry.com/2...hnny-townsend/

This story didn't seem quite sure on those numbers regarding Alabama's scholarship numbers. I'd be curious to know exactly how many open scholarships they had and compare that to their class of 26.

Its easy to always be ranked highly in recruiting when you're always taking a full class and then some each year. Here are their classes in the Saban era:

2013: 26
2012: 26
2011: 26
2010: 28
2009: 30
2008: 32

[Claygator]

Originally Posted by deathroll

Actually no. This story is not about OSU being jilted, it's about how OSU failed to honor the scholarship offer that they had extended.

Precisely. It's a bit confusing though, with the comments from Meyer that OSU failed to address their need at punter. If they needed to recruit a punter in 2013, you would think he would have honored the offer to Townsend. I also agree with the general premise of the article that the practice of pulling offers at the last minute, or telling a kid he needs to grey shirt, is deplorable.