Texas Tech adds offensive lineman

Dallas (Texas) Madison offensive tackle Javius Townsend had plans to visit Texas Tech earlier this summer but they fell through. With an offer in hand from the Red Raiders, Townsend was ready to see what the program had in store in Lubbock, Texas. On the verge of an official visit to Lubbock this weekend however, Townsend decided that there was no reason to wait and committed to Texas Tech.

"I just called Coach Mitchell and said that I was ready now (to commit) and he was like 'now I'm ready'," Townsend said. "He put me on the phone with Coach Leach and from there I talked to the defensive coordinator, the O-line coach and pretty much pretty much everybody. They told me how they made my day and how they were glad to have me."

Townsend will have to make the same college adjustments that every freshman has to make once he hits the campus at Texas Tech. However, one adjustment he won't have to make is to a new offense. The spread offense is one of the main factors that Townsend pointed to in making his decision.

"They run the spread just like my high school offense so I just have to learn the plays instead of changing everything," he said.

Though this weekend will be Townsend's first trip to Lubbock, he already has the gut feeling that it is the right place for him.

"I just felt it," he said. "It came at me at one instant. It was actually last night. I had a conversation with my grandmother and she was talking to me about colleges and stuff and then right off the top of my head Texas Tech had popped up so I thought that must be it. I feel relieved."

Though Townsend is excited about his Texas Tech commitment, he does have other trips set up, specifically two to much colder climates than west Texas.

"I still want to take my visits," he said. "I already have a visit set up to Minnesota on the 19th and I go to Buffalo in October."

Though he lines up at offensive tackle for Madison, Townsend thinks his future may be on the inside for the Red Raiders which is just fine for him.

"I'm thinking they're going to put me on the interior," he said. "That's fine. I'm athletic anyways."