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John Owens |
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Irish starter at tight end as a senior ... a great blocker who
impressed NFL scouts with his wide body ... was a fifth-round draft pick
of the Detroit Lions despite making only five catches all season ... was
invited to the Gridiron Rotary Classic ... could also play defensive
end ... a tremendous athlete who is also a good basketball player ... played for the legendary Morgan Wootten at DeMatha High School in
Washington DC.
AS A SENIOR: Irish starter at tight end in 2001 after
converting from defensive end in 2000 ... recorded his first career
reception vs. Texas A&M, a nine-yard catch ... made a nine-yard catch
vs. West Virginia on a key third-and-nine situation ... made first
touchdown reception of his career, a five-yard catch, vs. Boston
College ... recorded career-high two catches for 40 yards vs.
Tennessee ... recorded reception for 16 yards vs. Navy.
AS A JUNIOR: Irish backup at right defensive end in 2000
after playing tight end his first two seasons ... appeared on
special teams in each game, making 61 regular-season appearances,
then one more in 2001 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl vs. Oregon State ... made first career defensive appearance against Nebraska and played on
defense in final 10 regular-season games ... saw action at both at
tight end and at defensive end vs. Navy ... made career-high four
tackles vs. West Virginia, including a sack and another for loss ... had two solo stops vs. Boston College.
AS A SOPHOMORE: Played in nine games in '99 as reserve at
tight end ... missed Michigan, Purdue and Michigan State games with
torn calf muscle ... made 43 special team appearances ... saw
action at tight end vs. Kansas, Oklahoma, Arizona State, USC and
Stanford.
AS A FRESHMAN: Won a monogram after playing in each of last
11 games in '98 as reserve tight end, including vs. Georgia Tech in
'99 Gator Bowl ... worked as number-three tight end, though he did
not catch a pass ... made 43 regular-season appearances with Irish
special teams, then five more in Gator Bowl, working with punt team ... saw action at tight end vs. Michigan State, Purdue, Stanford,
Baylor and Navy ... recovered a fumble on punt vs. Navy ... only
game in which he did not play was Michigan opener.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Rated 95th best prep player
nationally by The Sporting News and 99th best player by Chicago
Sun-Times ... USA Today honorable mention All-America pick ...
earned three letters in football as tight end and defensive end at
DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Md. ... three-year starter at
tight end and only player on team to start on both offense and
defense in '97 ... caught 25 passes for 221 yards and six
touchdowns as senior in '97 ... had eight sacks and caused five
fumbles as defensive end while making 110 tackles ... helped
DeMatha to Washington, D.C., Catholic Athletic Conference runner-up
slot in '97 ... caught 34 passes for 238 yards and six TDs as
junior ... helped team to combined 27-6 record in three seasons,
including 11-1 in '97 ... captain of team as senior ... two-time
all-conference and Washington Post all-metro selection .. selected
for Chesapeake Classic that matches football standouts from Maryland
and Virginia ... three-year starter in basketball and an
all-league pick as senior ... averaged 12.7 points in basketball as
senior to go with 13.9 rebounds ... helped team to three-year
record of 92-13 in basketball ... captain of basketball team as
senior ... from high school that produced former Notre Dame
football players Andre Jones (1987-90) and John Taliaferro (1991-92)
and Irish basketball standouts Adrian Dantley, Bob Whitmore and Sid
Catlett ... played at DeMatha for coach Bill McGregor, whose
daughter Christine was senior at Notre Dame in 1999-2000 ... full
name is John Wesley Owens ... older of two children ... born
1-10-80 in Washington, D.C. ... graduated from the Mendoza College
of Business with major in management information systems.
Owen's Career Statistics
| | G-GS | Solo | Asst. | Tot. | FR | TL | Sacks |
| 1998 | 10-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| 1999 | 9-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| 2000 | 11-0 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 2-9 | 1-6 |
| 2001 | 11-11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 |
| TOTAL | 41-11 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 2-9 | 1-6 |
