Daryl Townsend's focus on football delivered CFL career

By Andrew Soong, August 22nd, 2012

Montreal Alouette Safety Daryl Townsend realized that he could do more with himself if he kept focus and stayed out of trouble with football.
“I grew up in a working class town and I used sports as a tool to stay out of trouble,” said the Windsor native. “I loved sports and it also gave me the work ethic to achieve my goals.”
Towsend's path to the CFL was humble that included a full-time job as a package handler with UPS in his home town. However, he yearned for a university education that eventually saw him playing in the CIS for the Windsor Lancers leading up to his debut season last year with the Alouettes. According to Townsend “my first year at university I struggled.”
“I wanted to go back to school and I wanted to play football,” said Townsend who admitted that he had to buckle down and focus. “I knew that I had the talent and took it upon myself to get here.”
Townsend continued his drive to the CFL and the Alouettes in 2011 when he was first signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders then released by them. Next Townsend was signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in September only to be released by the Bombers weeks later. Finally, the Montreal Alouettes picked him up in October where he eventually played his first game in the East Semifinal at Olympic Stadium last November.
Since then non-import safety has continued to add to his CFL career on special teams earning more recently Special Teams Player of the Week. To date Townsend has racked-up a personal best and game-high with special team tackles tying with Saskatchewan's Samuel Hurl. This is including at least one special teams tackle in every game this season.
Townsend signed an extension of his contract with the Alouettes in the January to stay in Montreal. Despite the initial culture shock of the city, Townsend has grown to see Montreal as his new home. According to Townsend “I just love the city.”
“Montreal is really lively and is a very international city,” said Townsend about Montreal. “The fans are really great too and things have been really nice here so far.”