Nov 22, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers and Missouri Tigers compete for an onside kick by Tennessee during the fourth quarter at Neyland Stadium. Missouri won 29 to 21. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
28. Tommy Townsend — Punter
6’1″/168 lbs — Orlando, FL (Boone)
247Sports rating: Two-Star
247Sports position ranking: 13
Rivals rating: Three-star
Rivals position ranking: 4
Notable offers: Baylor, Colorado
Tommy Townsend is the punter of the future for the Volunteers.
And the future could be as soon as 2015.
Matt Darr, who served as the Vols’ punter in 2014, has exhausted his eligibility, which means Butch Jones will be looking for someone who can successfully flip field position.
There’s no reason to think the highly touted Townsend won’t be the guy in 2015.
The Vols started a true freshman at kicker in 2014 (Aaron Medley), so we know Jones is ok with the idea of a freshman handling such an important duty.
Townsend, like the player before him on this list, will fill an often overlooked need. A need that can be the difference in a win and a loss.