Markel Townsend

Saw action in all 12 of the team's games as a reserve on offense and on special teams … Rushed 70 times for 322 yards with a team-best six rushing scores for 36 seasonal points … Added 26 receptions for 173 yards and a pair of kickoff returns for 42 yards on the season … Finished the year with 537 total yards on the year … Scored his first career touchdown on a one-yard plunge at ACC-foe, Wake Forest (Sept. 6) … Recorded double-digit rushes four times including a career-high 15 carries at The Citadel (Oct. 18) for a career-best 90 yards on the ground … Added three receptions for 30 yards against the Bulldogs for 120 all-purpose yards … Posted rushing scores in three-straight games against Furman (Oct. 11), at The Citadel (Oct. 18) and at Chattanooga (Nov. 1) … Caught a career-high nine passes against ETSU (Nov. 15) … Named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman team on offense by the league's head coaches. Did not see game action, missing the season due to injury ... Took a medical redshirt. Played in four games as a reserve in the offensive backfield, remaining eligible for a redshirt … Rushed 18 times for 62 total yards, adding two receptions for 21 receiving yards … Rushed a career-best six times for 20 yards, adding a reception for 11 yards to record 31 all-purpose yards … Posted five rushes for 15 yards against Charleston Southern (Sept. 23), with four runs totaling 14 yards at The Citadel (Sept. 30) … In the season finale, rushed three times for 13 yards at VMI (Nov. 18) … Credited with a tackle assist at The Citadel (Sept. 30) … Carried the ball five times for 28 yards and a touchdown in WCU's annual Spring Game, adding a reception ... Named to the 2023-24 Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll. Is the son of Melanie Townsend.