Underdog University
Humbleness is said to be the underlying factor that separates a good player from an elite one.
Recruited out of Jess Lanier High School as the number four ranked player in Alabama by Rivals.com, LaDarius Owens, sophomore linebacker, Auburn head coach Gene Chizik decided to redshirt Owens his freshman year.
“At first I was bitter about it, but you know as time goes on you can either be bitter about it or you can make it a positive situation,” Owens said.
“ You can look at the pluses of it. So I just figured I would get better instead of sitting around and moping about it.”
Having felt the emptiness of being left behind back in high school, during his sophomore year after transferring to Jess Lanier, Owens flourished his junior and senior years racking up more than 172 tackles and 38.5 sacks as well as receiving the opportunity to participate in the 2010 Under Armour All-American game.
Owens isn’t the first in his family to step foot in Jordan-Hare Stadium as a Tiger. His uncle, James Owens, halfback, who played from 1970-72, was the first African American football player on scholarship at Auburn.
“He doesn’t really put any pressure on me. He’s actually more famous than me. Most people who know me know him. They ask about him more than they talk about me. I want to make him proud true enough, so that’s the only pressure I put on myself. He’s already proud of me, but I just want get to the point to where I want to get on his level where people are talking about me, part of history forever,” said Owens.
After watching his team raise the highest award at the highest level of college football last season, LaDarius Owens finds inspiration from the fans who haven’t forgotten about him.
“Like I said I sat out last year and I’m thinking a lot of the fans will forget about me because I was recruited and I didn’t play last year, but a lot of them write me on Facebook or see me out and say they are so excited to see me out there and ready to see what I got. I don’t want to disappoint the fans, but I don’t want to disappoint myself. So I feel as though it’s my time and step up and make some plays,” said Owens.
With the blue and orange of Auburn University running through his blood the hate for in-state rival Alabama has stayed its course. When asked which quarterback he would love to sack the most, he didn’t hesitate to answer with whoever is in the pocket for ‘Bama.
“Honestly, I’ve been an Auburn fan so I naturally hate Alabama. It’s the fans that really make me hate them rather than the players.”
Known as a workaholic on and off the field (Owens made Dean’s list last fall and spring semesters), Owens credits his faith and his family as his reason’s to continue.
“What keeps me going in just my daily rituals and working out and playing football and stuff would be my faith in God and my mom. I have a single mom and my family. We real close in this family, so whenever I feel like giving up or get discouraged I think about them and that keeps me going,” said Owens.
Recruited out of Jess Lanier High School as the number four ranked player in Alabama by Rivals.com, LaDarius Owens, sophomore linebacker, Auburn head coach Gene Chizik decided to redshirt Owens his freshman year.
“At first I was bitter about it, but you know as time goes on you can either be bitter about it or you can make it a positive situation,” Owens said.
“ You can look at the pluses of it. So I just figured I would get better instead of sitting around and moping about it.”
Having felt the emptiness of being left behind back in high school, during his sophomore year after transferring to Jess Lanier, Owens flourished his junior and senior years racking up more than 172 tackles and 38.5 sacks as well as receiving the opportunity to participate in the 2010 Under Armour All-American game.
Owens isn’t the first in his family to step foot in Jordan-Hare Stadium as a Tiger. His uncle, James Owens, halfback, who played from 1970-72, was the first African American football player on scholarship at Auburn.
“He doesn’t really put any pressure on me. He’s actually more famous than me. Most people who know me know him. They ask about him more than they talk about me. I want to make him proud true enough, so that’s the only pressure I put on myself. He’s already proud of me, but I just want get to the point to where I want to get on his level where people are talking about me, part of history forever,” said Owens.
After watching his team raise the highest award at the highest level of college football last season, LaDarius Owens finds inspiration from the fans who haven’t forgotten about him.
“Like I said I sat out last year and I’m thinking a lot of the fans will forget about me because I was recruited and I didn’t play last year, but a lot of them write me on Facebook or see me out and say they are so excited to see me out there and ready to see what I got. I don’t want to disappoint the fans, but I don’t want to disappoint myself. So I feel as though it’s my time and step up and make some plays,” said Owens.
With the blue and orange of Auburn University running through his blood the hate for in-state rival Alabama has stayed its course. When asked which quarterback he would love to sack the most, he didn’t hesitate to answer with whoever is in the pocket for ‘Bama.
“Honestly, I’ve been an Auburn fan so I naturally hate Alabama. It’s the fans that really make me hate them rather than the players.”
Known as a workaholic on and off the field (Owens made Dean’s list last fall and spring semesters), Owens credits his faith and his family as his reason’s to continue.
“What keeps me going in just my daily rituals and working out and playing football and stuff would be my faith in God and my mom. I have a single mom and my family. We real close in this family, so whenever I feel like giving up or get discouraged I think about them and that keeps me going,” said Owens.