The Raiders inked fifth-round pick Johnny Townsend on Monday, the team announced, officially locking up the only punter on the roster.
Townsend’s 46.2-yard punt average ranks first in SEC history, as the former Florida special teams star finished his career with 11,090 yards on 240 punts. He’ll start for the Raiders at punter barring catastrophe, given the team waived the only other punter on the roster last week in UC Davis product Colby Wadman.
Oakland picked Townsend No. 173 overall in the fifth round on April 28. He landed 90 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line in college and received second-team All-American honors as a senior.