After struggling through injuries and illness during most of his college career, Greg Townsend Jr. is on track to start at defensive end against Arkansas State.
Townsend, a fifth-year senior, had chicken pox early last season. He also was slowed by an ankle injury.
He had two sacks in nine games.
The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Townsend, son of former NFL defensive lineman Greg Townsend, made numerous disruptive plays during training camp.
"That's one of my best qualities," he said of his pass-rushing skills, "and I'm going to try to do that for my team.