Owens "just wants to play"
LaDarius Owens considers his best traits as a football player to be his work ethic and maturity level, as he described himself during the mock press conference with Auburn Journalism Workshop students. Both traits were put to the test when Owens, a ESPN Top 150 recruit coming out of high school, red-shirted his freshman year for the Auburn Tigers. By making the decision to red-shirt, Owens had to sit out and watch his fellow teammates go undefeated winning a national championship on the field. Owens claimed sitting out was rough, but nothing pushes him harder than knowing he has a great opportunity to prove himself this coming season.
Owens was a defensive end coming out of high school, and most top recruits in college now-a-days make immediate impacts as freshman. Unfortunately for Owens, the coaches decided to make him a linebacker, a position that position would suit his team better for the future. Owens accepted, but found in front of him senior leaders Josh Bynes and Craig Stevens who were SEC linebackers. Therefore, throughout summer practice and two-a-days, Owens realized his best choice was to sit out his freshman year, keeping all four years of eligibility, and learn the position of linebacker while getting "bigger, faster, and stronger." Owens had no idea that the year of football he sat out, would become the second national championship in the history of Auburn football.
As tough has it was not having a role in Auburn's championship, Owens is looking forward to the upcoming football season. Multiple times in the mock press conference, students asked what Owens goals, and hopes for the year were; each time stressing his desire to get back on the field. The good news for Owens, who made the Deans list last fall, is that senior star
ting linebackers such as Josh Bynes are now graduated, leaving a young and inexperienced returning linebacker group.
Owens now bigger, faster, and stronger, should have a great opportunity to start and make the immediate impact he foresaw when he chose Auburn as a top recruit coming out of high school. Owens displayed his humble being all throughout the interview by refusing to think of individual goals such as sacks, or tackles for loss. For Owens, his one and only goal is to play.
Owens was a defensive end coming out of high school, and most top recruits in college now-a-days make immediate impacts as freshman. Unfortunately for Owens, the coaches decided to make him a linebacker, a position that position would suit his team better for the future. Owens accepted, but found in front of him senior leaders Josh Bynes and Craig Stevens who were SEC linebackers. Therefore, throughout summer practice and two-a-days, Owens realized his best choice was to sit out his freshman year, keeping all four years of eligibility, and learn the position of linebacker while getting "bigger, faster, and stronger." Owens had no idea that the year of football he sat out, would become the second national championship in the history of Auburn football.
As tough has it was not having a role in Auburn's championship, Owens is looking forward to the upcoming football season. Multiple times in the mock press conference, students asked what Owens goals, and hopes for the year were; each time stressing his desire to get back on the field. The good news for Owens, who made the Deans list last fall, is that senior star
ting linebackers such as Josh Bynes are now graduated, leaving a young and inexperienced returning linebacker group.
Owens now bigger, faster, and stronger, should have a great opportunity to start and make the immediate impact he foresaw when he chose Auburn as a top recruit coming out of high school. Owens displayed his humble being all throughout the interview by refusing to think of individual goals such as sacks, or tackles for loss. For Owens, his one and only goal is to play.