Jeremy Towns is a man of character, leadership and public service, but those who know him say that he is also incredibly passionate about people. Throughout his four years at Samford, the defensive lineman has done more for his school than make big plays on the football field; he has changed lives at Samford and in the community of Birmingham, Ala. In April at Samford's Leadership and Service Convocation, the Dolomite, Ala. native was awarded three top honors: the Omicron Delta Kappa Circle Leader of the Year Award, the Rufus Shelton Community Service Award and the John R. Mott Award. The ODK Circle Leader of the Year award is given to the member that has exemplified service to Samford University, the Rufus Shelton Community Service Award recognizes a male and female student who has done the most for the betterment of life at Samford, and the John R. Mott Award is given to a man in the senior class who represents high character, scholarship and student public service.
Towns has made the Dean's List every semester that he has been in school and he has also earned Academic All-Southern Conference honors. Towns has been very involved on Samford's campus. He helped start and lead the RANSOM (Radical Athlete and Student Oasis Ministry), served on the Samford NCAA Recertification Team's Gender Diversity Committee, and has been a member of Samford's SAAC and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Towns was also a member of the search committee for Samford's new athletics director last spring.
In the spring of 2009, he was named the winner of Samford's inaugural ODK Male Freshman Leadership Award and also won the Brothers of One Voice Award from the city of Birmingham. Towns was nominated for the AFCA Good Works Team and also participated in the March of Dimes' March for Babies.
Towns is not only a difference maker at Samford, but he has also impacted the Birmingham area. Towns has become heavily involved in community service, volunteering as a mentor and tutor at G. Ross Bell Detention Center.
Although Towns has a strong passion for people, football is what brought him to Samford. However, for most of his four years, Towns has been plagued with injury. Despite all of these setbacks, he has stayed more than positive. Towns has found his purpose in life and he lives it each and every day.
Jeremy Towns has a passion for impacting people. This is his story.