Red-shirt prepares to step up
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By Emily Gabel
Fairhope High School
Fairhope, Alabama
For Auburn University sophomore LaDarius Owens, his passion is football and it is what he is trying to do for a career. As with most good things, the joy of doing what he loves will be something he will have to work for, a challenge that he is not going to back down from.
After being one of the most sought-after high school recruits in the Southeast, Owens became a red-shirted outside lineman for the Auburn football team during his freshman year. The jump from high school star to watching on the sidelines was not an easy one for Owens, yet he handled it with grace.
“I realized you can be bitter about something or make it a positive situation,” Owens said.
During the course of his red-shirt year, Owens learned to be mature in the face of difficult situations, a characteristic he finds to be one of his best. His levelheadedness in the face of a less than ideal situation gained him the respect of coaches and teammates alike.
The connections Owens and his teammates share resembles a family more than a team. The sense of connection, along with a history of Auburn alumnae, brought Owens to Auburn for his collegiate career.
“It’s a family here, they don’t just preach it,” Owens said.
Now with openings made in the lineup due to graduating seniors, Owens is getting his shot to step out on the field and continue to be the leader he has been in the locker and weight rooms with his fellow teammates.
Although filling the shoes left behind by a national championship team may seem difficult, Owens is up for the job.
“I like being the underdog,” Owens said.
Fairhope High School
Fairhope, Alabama
For Auburn University sophomore LaDarius Owens, his passion is football and it is what he is trying to do for a career. As with most good things, the joy of doing what he loves will be something he will have to work for, a challenge that he is not going to back down from.
After being one of the most sought-after high school recruits in the Southeast, Owens became a red-shirted outside lineman for the Auburn football team during his freshman year. The jump from high school star to watching on the sidelines was not an easy one for Owens, yet he handled it with grace.
“I realized you can be bitter about something or make it a positive situation,” Owens said.
During the course of his red-shirt year, Owens learned to be mature in the face of difficult situations, a characteristic he finds to be one of his best. His levelheadedness in the face of a less than ideal situation gained him the respect of coaches and teammates alike.
The connections Owens and his teammates share resembles a family more than a team. The sense of connection, along with a history of Auburn alumnae, brought Owens to Auburn for his collegiate career.
“It’s a family here, they don’t just preach it,” Owens said.
Now with openings made in the lineup due to graduating seniors, Owens is getting his shot to step out on the field and continue to be the leader he has been in the locker and weight rooms with his fellow teammates.
Although filling the shoes left behind by a national championship team may seem difficult, Owens is up for the job.
“I like being the underdog,” Owens said.