Sep 28, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights wide receiver Xavier Townsend (3) scores a touchdown during the second half against the Colorado Buffaloes at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
AMES — The so-called “Tampa Trio” became the “Tampa duo” before finally dwindling to the “Tampa uno.”
Iowa State standout quarterback Rocco Becht stood as the last member of that Sunshine State-based group that initially included receivers and friends Xavier Townsend and Greg Gaines when they visited the Cyclones’ campus in the summer of 2021.
Gaines eventually transferred to Rhode Island. Townsend chose to stay closer to home and went to UCF. But now he and Becht will form a revamped “Tampa duo” for the Cyclones this season.
“I kind of messed that up a little bit,” Townsend said, smiling, as he met the ISU media for the first time on Monday. “But (I was) able to spin back and make the right decision.”
Townsend, a 5-11, 185-pound junior, first met Becht at the age of eight. They were on-the-field adversaries then, but over time formed a bond that led to their reunification in Ames. So what will the Cyclones — who need to replace the massive production of NFL prospects Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel this season — get in Townsend?
“First, I want to describe myself as a hard worker,” he said. “Because before it shows o the football field, it’s in the film room (and) in the indoor (facility) doing the work and all that. And when it comes down to game day, I feel like I’m pretty electric. I can make plays. Downfield passes, in the return game, flipping field (position) in the return game — just making plays.”
Townsend totaled 157 all-purpose yards last season before sitting out the final eight games to preserve his redshirt. He’s both speedy and shifty and naturally draws comparisons to Noel because of his athletic ability and body type. In other words (and to repeat) …
“He’s electric,” ISU wide receivers coach Noah Pauley said. “It’s been really fun having him (around). He’s a wild guy. He’s a guy that came in and kind of hit the ground running as far as learning the playbook and playing multiple positions. He had a lot of good stuff to watch with Jaylin Noel and stuff we did with him, but it’s gonna be a lot of fun moving forward trying to find ways to get him the ball, whether that’s split wide out, in the slot, in the backfield. It’s gonna be a lot of fun.”
Townsend’s one of two high-level transfers the Cyclones added to the receivers room in the offseason. The other — 6-4, 195-pound junior Chase Sowell — came from East Carolina and is also expected to make an immediate impact.
“We came in and the first thing we (did) was, ‘OK, let’s go put the work in,’” Townsend said. “Chase is a hard worker. He wants to keep continually bettering his craft as I do. So it’s been great. We’ve been able to tag along with the players that have been here, because everyone here is hardworking, too. You always see somebody getting extra work in and you see that, it makes you be like, ‘Hey, let me hop in with you.’”
Sowell averaged 20 yards per catch last season for the Pirates. Townsend flashes game-changing potential. And several solid performers return for ISU, including former transfers Isaiah Alston and Eli Green, as well as emerging playmakers such as Carson Brown and Brett Eskildsen.
“I think (Townsend and Sowell) and the younger guys that we had last year, it’s probably the best talent that we’ve had top-to-bottom in that room, the most depth,” Becht said. “I’m excited to see all those guys collab together and go at it and compete in spring ball.”
He’s especially stoked to be reunited with Townsend, who took note of the Cyclones’ historic 11-win mark last season from afar, and immediately heard from ISU assistant athletics director for football player personnel Derek Hoodjer when he entered the portal last winter.
“I want to say it opened around 6 o’clock and at 6:01 I was on the phone with Hoodj,” Townsend said. “Of course, I was watching Iowa State the whole season. So I felt like it would be a great fit, you know? I was happy when they called.”
