Nick Townsend's coach discusses similarities to Harold Perkins, "Sunday" upside, love for the game
Monday became a significant day for the future of Texas Football when Spring Dekaney tight end Nick Townsend picked the Longhorns. Townsend is a difference-making talent on offense or defense. Though he’ll start his career at tight end, the chance exists that he could also play Edge or linebacker.
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Yesterday I provided my thoughts on the recruitment, as well as what it means for Jeff Banks (On3+). Today, I wanted to share input from one of Townsend’s coaches. Just as Townsend wears many hats for Dekaney, so too does Coach Herbert Frazier. Frazier is the special teams coordinator and he also assists with receivers and defensive backs. At every offseason workout I’ve attended, Frazier is right there keeping the Wildcats moving.
On Townsend’s upside and mental make-up
A lot of players have the talent but not the football character. A lot of players have the football character but not the talent. Townsend has both in abundance.
“Nick Townsend is one of the better players I’ve ever had the privilege to coach and I’ve had the Harold Perkins’ of the world. So he has that type of ability that Harold Perkins had in high school to play on either side of the ball. He’s one of those kids that early on you know they’re a Sunday kid as long as they go to the right institution and get the right backing in order for them to get the necessary knowledge to make it to Sunday. The kid loves football and it’s hard in this day and age to find kids who love and understand football. Most of them just play it for the recognition but he loves the game of football.”
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On Coach Banks and being coached hard
A frequent quote from Townsend was that he was looking for a school and position coach that would coach him hard. He’s grown comfortable with that at Dekaney. Jeff Banks seems like the perfect match.
“Him and Coach Banks are going to be great together. Coach Banks is one of those guys that we [Dekaney staff] love in the NCAA. He’s one of the guys that always keeps it real. Coming from us and going to him is going to be an easy transition. Banks is going to give him the hard coaching and Banks is going to give him the necessary coaching to be a great tight end. And even so, let’s say he doesn’t just play tight end, I think Coach Nansen is a great person for him to learn the linebacker position as well.”
As a defensive prospect, Edge or off-ball linebacker?
At 6-foot-3.5, 235 pounds, Townsend would seem destined for Edge if he played defense. However, he moves so well he could conceivably play off-ball linebacker.
“I’ve heard both. I guess it just depends on which one he’s more explosive at. I know he’s going to move around fast off the edge just because it’s a whole lot simpler but if he picks up the playbook in time, man, it could seem like they have two Anthony Hills in the middle. It just depends on how fast they want him on the field and how fast he picks up the playbook.”
The expectation is Townsend will primarily play tight end but he could get a look at defense. Offense is his preference and if you watch his tape it’s easy to understand. He’s an explosive athlete who can run by or through defenders.
Per On3, Nick Townsend is the No. 88 player in the nation, the No. 4 tight end, and the No. 23 player in Texas.
