Syllabus Week: Welcome to the 40 Acres, Nick Townsend

2025 tight end signee Nick Townsend makes it to the 40 Acres this weekend.

[Sign up for Inside Texas TODAY and get the BEST Longhorns scoop!]

One of three summer enrollees along with Jordan and Devin Coleman, Townsend arrives at Texas at some point this weekend after remaining at Spring Dekaney for the second semester of his senior year. That allowed for Townsend to run track for the Wildcats. Listed at 219 pounds by the Longhorns on signing day, Townsend posted a personal best 22.55 in the 200m in February. He then ran the second leg of Dekaney’s 4×200 team that won the UIL 6A state championship in May with a 1:23.56.

But now that his track season had its golden finish, Townsend’s attention turns to the football field and the weight room in Steve Sarkisian‘s football program.

The missed spring practices may eat into Townsend’s ability to carve out a significant role in 2025. But that doesn’t mean playing time is not an option for the top-100 prospect. Townsend’s unique speed at his sized paired with some questions about the depth at Jeff Banks‘ position means that he could see snaps that take advantage of his physical traits this season.

Wrote Eric Nahlin in April…

Townsend might be the offense’s equivalent to Jonah Williams. Williams is missing spring ball to participate in baseball. We’ve been theorizing he’ll still play this year because he’s so freakishly talented. Perhaps the coaches will carve out a narrow role for him in Dime to ensure he gets on the field. The same could be done for Townsend in two tight end sets. You likely wouldn’t want a play’s success resting on his ability to block, but you can certainly put him on the field to run defenders ragged. A Jordan Washington-Nick Townsend tandem would put a ton of stress on a pass defense that’s likely thinking run.

For young tight ends, the receiving aspect of the position usually comes naturally. Blocking is the difficult part of the equation. Even Ja’Tavion Sanders needed a redshirt season to get the ins and outs of blocking down, but part of that has to do with Sanders playing wide receiver for the Denton Ryan offense. Townsend ran a significant number of routes from off-ball alignments near the offensive line that will look familiar to him when he sees the Longhorn playbook. Plus, it’s easy to see a physical streak from Townsend in his defensive highlights. That said, it’s hard to pick up the blocking needed for SEC play during the summer when there aren’t even any helmets or shoulder pads on.

The addition of Jack Endries came after Nahlin posited Townsend could play in 2025. Endries and Washington are likely to take up most of the snaps at least when looking at the 2025 season in late May. But if the speed at the position is too good to keep off the field, then there may not be a reason to keep Townsend on the bench. And if the blocking picks up? Texas could have a player whose upside look like Sanders’.

If Endries, Wasington, Spencer Shannon, and Emaree Winston hold their own at tight end, or if blocking takes some time to develop, Townsend should see opportunities on special teams. There’s a home on the field somewhere for him, even if it is just on fourth down. Playing physically gifted players on special teams helps the entire operation.

Townsend, like other talented members of the Longhorns’ No. 1 signing class, is good enough for real playing time in 2025. How much that happens depends on a process that starts this week, but it’s hard to envision a season that doesn’t see Townsend contribute in some way.

Townsend was ranked as the No. 93 overall prospect, the No. 5 tight end, and the No. 17 player in Texas in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. On3 ranks Townsend as the No. 112 overall prospects, the No. 5 tight end, and the No. 21 player in Texas.

[Order THE LONGHORN ALPHABET today and teach your little ones the A to Z’s of Texas Football!]

Nick Townsend Scouting Summary

via Charles Power

Jumbo athlete with two-way production and great speed. Projects as a move tight end at the next level. Measured in at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds before his senior season. Has plus length with 33-inch arms to go with 10-inch hands. Has fantastic straight-line speed for his size, running two sub-11.0 second times in the 100 meters as a junior. Lined up at linebacker, as a detached tight end, and as a wildcat quarterback for his high school team. Primarily an athletic projection as a tight end. Does a lot of his damage after the catch, taking quick passes and turning upfield. Looks to have solid ball skills, but doesn’t have many downfield targets on film. Had 25 catches for 272 yards and four touchdowns as a senior. Also scored 5 rushing touchdowns and had 10 tackles for loss on defense. Younger for the cycle, turning 18 in May of his senior year of high school. Will need to fully adapt to playing tight end, but has the size and athleticism to create a mismatch in the passing game with skill development. Fits the prototype that we see from move tight ends who are NFL Draft picks.