FBS SINGLE-SEASON KICKOFF RETURN AVERAGE RECORD HOLDER (40.3 - 2016)
2017 Conference USA Honorable Mention
2017 Conference USA Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year
2017 Conference USA Preseason Team (KR)
2016 Conference USA Second Team (KR)
2015 Conference USA Second Team (KR)
2015 Conference USA Second Team (KR) (Phil Steele)
2014 Conference USA All-Freshman Team
CAREER GAME HIGHS:
- Long Kick Return - 98 vs. Louisiana Tech (9/10/15)
- Long Punt Return - 32 vs. Louisiana Tech (9/10/15)
2016 (r-Jr.) | 14/14: Towner had a record-breaking season in 2016, setting the NCAA’s FBS single-season record for kickoff return average at a staggering 40.3 yards per return. Towner also became WKU’s career record holder in kickoff return yardage at 2,441 yards, passing Joey Stockon’s mark of 2,302 yards from 1994-97. Towner tallied 1,048 yards on 26 returns with a long of 93 in a return score on the opening kickoff against Marshall. It marked the first time in the FBS era WKU returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Towner also had a six-yard scoop-and-score on a blocked punt at LA Tech. On the offensive side, Towner caught five passes for 69 yards and had one rush for three yards.
2015 (r-So.) | 14/14: Towner continued to serve as WKU’s primary kick returner in his sophomore season, returning 32 kicks for 758 yards, including a career-best 98-yard kick return for a touchdown against Louisiana Tech. The 32 kickoff returns are the fifth-most in a single season in school history. Towner also had long returns of 41 yards (FAU) and 61 yards (Southern Miss) on the year. He also added a career-long 32-yard punt return against Louisiana Tech and was named the league’s Special Teams Player of the Week with 169 total return yards and a 66.0 average, the second-highest in league history. Towner was the C-USA Second Team Kick Returner in 2015 by both the league office and Phil Steele. Towner tallied three rushes for 38 yards on the year and had eight tackles, all kickoff coverage. His 98-yard kickoff return was the sixth-longest in program history as were his 758 kickoff return yards on the year. Towner is one of only four Hilltoppers to ever have a pair of kickoff return touchdowns.
2014 (r-Fr.) | 12/0: Towner appeared in 12 games in his first season of action on The Hill. He served primarily on special teams with limited snaps at wide receiver. As WKU’s primary returner, he averaged 22.7 yards on 28 kickoff returns. He ran a 94-yard kickoff back for a touchdown to open second-half scoring in a win over Old Dominion. His 186 kickoff return yards versus Old Dominion were the third highest single-game total in WKU history. Towner had 32-yard kick returns in wins over Army and No. 19 Marshall. He set up a one-play touchdown drive at FAU with his 22-yard punt return, giving WKU the ball at the Owls’ 30-yard line. Towner had carries of 15 and 11 yards in 2014 in a pair of WKU scoring drives against Bowling Green and UTSA. Towner was named the CFPA National Kick Returner of the Week following his performance against Old Dominion. He also spent time with the safeties late in the season due to injuries in that position group. He did not see a defensive snap.
2013 (Fr.): Towner redshirted in his first season on The Hill.
HS/Misc.: Towner prepped at St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile, Ala., logging time in the defensive backfield, receiver, running back and as a kick returner. Towner intercepted seven passes in 2012, returning a pair of the interceptions back for touchdowns. On the offensive side of the ball, Towner had seven catches for 221 yards and five touchdowns. Towner was named a First-Team All-Region performer by the Press-Register following his senior season along with being named Honorable Mention All-State. The speedy Towner also stood out on the track, winning the Class 5A 100-meter state title during his junior season.
