Texas lands 4-star recruit Nick Townsend, one of top 2025 tight ends

Texas' Class of 2025 hasn't shaped up as competitively as Steve Sarkisian's first two full classes in Austin. Still, many hesitated to cast any doubts about the Longhorns ability to close the gap until we see if they have a major recruiting surge at some point before Early Signing Day.

Perhaps Monday will be the start of that surge.

The 'Horns added a huge member of their 2025 class with the commitment of Nick Townsend , a four-star tight end from Spring (Texas) Dekaney. Townsend is considered one of the top pass-catching tight ends in the class, and picked Texas over Alabama, Texas A&M and USC, among others. Townsend is the top-rated tight end prospect to commit to Texas during the Steve Sarkisian era.

At 6-foot-3, 235-pounds, Townsend moves like a wide receiver with the size of a tight end. He projects to be an athletic, crossing route pass catcher in the mold of recently drafted JT Sanders, and also serves as an ideal complement to Texas' other tight end in the 2025 class; Emaree Winston, a four-star prospect from Georgia, is considered primarily a blocking tight end.

In an interview with 247Sports, Townsend said his time spent with Texas tight ends and special teams coach Jeff Banks was critical to his decision to pick the Longhorns, as were the school's fans.

"Honestly with coach (Jeff) Banks, I needed somebody with some juice like him like I might be up early in the morning taking four espresso shots with him, Townsend told 247Sports. "He just comes out with the juice, comes out with the energy and that's what I need and I feel like that's gonna make me better and shoot let's just get it rolling I'm ready. ...

"It was crazy, I felt the vibe, I felt the energy, the head coach came out and greeted me it was just crazy and a vibe that I didn't get from other schools. And I feel like they can make me bigger, faster, stronger there and take me to the next level honestly and then the fanbase is crazy."

Townsend also stars at linebacker for Dekaney, and Texas' linebacker coaches were also involved in his recruitment. That makes it distinctly possible that he could be switched to linebacker during his career in Austin, though recruiting insiders suggested the early plan is for Townsend to continue as a tight end until further notice.

That's good news for Texas fans, who finally got a taste of elite tight end play in 2023 and are clearly primed for more from the likes of Townsend in the years to come.