2017: Played in 12 games, starting at outside linebacker throughout the regular season … Ranked fifth nationally with four forced fumbles (four players had five) … The only 2017 senior who played Southern Conference games in 2013, Townes ranked fifth on the team with 51 tackles, third with 7.0 tackles for loss and second with 5.0 sacks (all five were in league play) … Had a career-high 2.0 sacks against New Mexico State to go along with six tackles and one forced fumble … Also had six tackles as well as one sack at Texas State … Tied his career high of eight tackles against UMass … Other sacks came against Coastal Carolina and Georgia Southern … Forced fumbles came against Texas State, New Mexico State, Idaho and Louisiana.
2016: Made 10 appearances during his junior year after sitting out the 2015 season due to injury … had a five-tackle performance versus UL-Monroe … finished with 14 total tackles (7 solo, 7 ast.) and a pass breakup...Had half a TFL in three separate games.
2015: Missed the season due to injury
2014: Was limited to just nine games and five starts due to recurring shoulder injuries ... opened the season strong, starting the first five games and recording 24 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss in those five contests ... recorded seven tackles, including two for loss, in home opener against Campbell ... matched a career-high with eight stops at Georgia Southern ... unfortunately, was not healthy enough to remain in the starting lineup following Game 5 versus South Alabama ... played in a reserve role for four of the next five contests but recorded just six stops and one tackle for loss before being shut down for good prior to the final two games of the season ... finished with 30 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.
2013: Started seven of the first eight games of the season at outside linebacker after earning the starting role with an outstanding fall camp as a true freshman ... was impressive from the get-go, starting with six tackles in his collegiate debut at Montana .... wound up tallying four or more stops in six of seven games, including eight tackles in the Mountaineers’ 38-14 romp over Georgia Southern ... During the Georgia Southern game, sustained a shoulder injury that would up requiring season-ending surgery ... finished the campaign with 32 tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass breakup in just seven games.
High School: Rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … played both outside linebacker and safety during prep career … named all-county, all-region and all-Middle Georgia as a junior and senior … recorded 121 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks and four forced fumbles as a senior … coached by David Cape.
Personal: Full name is Rashaad Cornelius Townes … born Feb. 17, 1995 (22 years old) … son of Denise and Jeffry Townes … is the second of four siblings … enjoys drawing … majoring in clinical exercise physiology with a minor in computer science … aspires to be a physical therapist.
