NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
UCF receiver Xavier Townsend has left the team, opting out this season and entering the transfer portal.
Townsend is taking advantage of the NCAA’s redshirt rule, which allows players to play up to four regular-season games in a season without counting toward their four years of eligibility.
Elite Empire Athletes and UCF Rivals were the first to report the move.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Townsend has been the Knights’ starting slot receiver since arriving in the 2022 recruiting class. He’s appeared in 29 games (14 starts) during the last three seasons, including every game this season.
“Coach Malzahn, Coach Harris and the entire staff have been great mentors as well as coaches. I will value every lesson I have learned over the last two-plus years,” Townsend said in a post on Instagram.
The junior has 66 catches with 521 yards and 4 touchdowns in his career, including 10 catches for 69 yards and a score in 2024. He was fourth on the team in receiving yards behind receiver Kobe Hudson (349), running back RJ Harvey (129) and tight end Randy Pittman (113).
A 4-star from Tampa’s Berkley Prep, he also was the Knights’ primary punt returner with 440 yards on 44 returns.
Townsend isn’t the only Knights player choosing to redshirt.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, safety Bryon Threats is planning do so with the intent to transfer in the offseason.
Threats, a senior, transferred to UCF after spending three seasons at Cincinnati. He has 7 tackles with a tackle for loss in four games with the Knights.
According to Pro Football Focus, Threats was the highest-graded coverage player on the team, taking part in 43 snaps on pass coverage. However, the Ohio native has spent much of the season as the primary backup to Sheldon Arnold, Ladarius Tennison and Quadric Bullard.
Threats appeared in 41 career games, totaling 130…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ucf-receiver-xavier-townsend-chooses-205900259.html
Author : Orlando Sentinel
Publish date : 2024-10-03 20:59:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
