Defensive lineman Davon Townley Jr. is staying at Penn State after entering the transfer portal last month, 247Sports confirmed.
Townley came to Penn State as the fourth-highest-rated signee in the school’s 2021 recruiting class, according to 247Sports, ranking behind only OL Landen Tengwall, CB Kalen King and S Jaylen Reed.
Tengwall and King became regular starters in their second season this past year, and Reed got a lot of playing time.
But Townley didn’t become a regular contributor in Year 2. With talented defensive ends such as Chop Robinson, Adisa Isaac and Nick Tarburton in the fold, Townley only played 22 snaps this past season, according to Pro Football Focus. He appeared in five of Penn State’s 12 games. The Minneapolis, Minnesota, native made his first collegiate tackle in the team’s 45-17 White Out win over the hometown Gophers Oct. 22. Townley assisted on a tackle in Penn State’s 45-14 win at Indiana Nov. 5. He also played in Penn State’s wins over Ohio, Maryland and Rutgers.
Townley redshirted his first season at Penn State. Before that, he was a star at North Community High School in Minneapolis. He didn’t play high school football until his junior year, but it didn’t take long for him to make an impact. Townley was a consensus four-star recruit and top-three player in Minnesota by the end of his high school career, according to 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN. He committed and signed with Penn State Signing Day 2021.
This news comes near the end of what’s been a busy transfer portal week for Penn State football.
Receiver Devin Carter, an NC State transfer who committed to Penn State after the team’s Rose Bowl win Jan. 2, flipped to West Virginia Wednesday. The next day, linebacker Jamari Buddin announced his plans to leave Penn State and enter the portal.
