JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Chad Owens is 4,700 miles from home, but he's feeling right at home with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

That's because the former University of Hawai'i standout had the good fortune to be drafted in the sixth round by the team with more Hawai'i players on its roster than any other in the NFL.

In April, Owens became the Jaguars' fourth Hawai'i "local boy," joining fullback Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala and offensive linemen Chris Naeole and Vince Manuwai.

Fuamatu-Ma'afala played for Saint Louis School and Utah; Naeole played for Kahuku High and Colorado; Manuwai played for Farrington High and was Owens' teammate at UH.

The three have combined to make Owens' transition to pro football much smoother.

"I look around the locker room here and it's like I never left Hawai'i,'' Owens said last weekend during a break in the Jaguars' training camp at Alltel Stadium.

"It's been like a dream come true. I feel like I'm at home, and that's made it a lot easier on me.''

Help from his fellow islanders is allowing Owens to concentrate strictly on football, and that has shown up in his play so far. Through three days of two-a-day workouts, Owens has been one of the true bright spots.

The Jaguars drafted Owens with the idea that the 5-foot-7 speedster would take over their kick-return duties, his specialty in college. But with No. 1 pick Matt Jones, also a wide receiver, in a contract holdout, Owens has been making his presence felt in the passing game, too.

Owens made several nice catches early in camp and continues to impress some of the with his array of moves in receiving drills, so it's not out of the question that Owens could have added duties in the regular offense once the season starts.

"The guy is quick as a cat,'' Jstarting cornerback Rashean Mathis said. "He's probably one of the quicker guys on the team, if not the quickest. When the ball is in his hands, he's going to do some amazing things.''

That was evident yesterday, when Owens befuddled veteran safety Deon Grant and second-year cornerback David Richardson so badly in one-on-one receiving drills that the other wideouts hooted loudly in appreciation.

"You've got to stop that, because that ain't fair!'' wide receiver and 2004 No. 1 draft pick Reggie Williams yelled at Owens.

Owens is taking the high praise from teammates and coaches in stride, not wanting to get over-confident in his first NFL camp. But he said he feels better about his situation with so many Hawai'i players around to help him.

"They've all been really great to me,'' Owens said of the three. "Anything I've needed, they've been right there for me to give me really good advice. You can't beat that.''

Fuamatu-Ma'afala has been Owens' main mentor. Owens said Fuamatu-Ma'afala is always close by when he needs advice about living so far from home or simply adjusting to life in the NFL.

"Fu has been great to me,'' Owens said. "I couldn't ask for anything better than the help he's given me so far.''

Fuamatu-Ma'afala downplays the compliments from Owens, saying it is the least he can do to help a fellow local boy who finds himself this far from the Islands.

"What makes it even easier is that Chad is such a great kid,'' Fuamatu-Ma'afala said. "He doesn't have a bad attitude or anything. He's just a hard-working guy who's very low-key and all about getting better.''

The closeness of the four on the Jaguars' roster is never more evident than off the field, where they frequently gather at Naeole's house for "local" food prepared by the lineman and his wife, Tara.

Naeole apparently is quite the cook, particularly Korean chicken and what Owens and Fuamatu-Ma'afala described as a mean Loco Moco.

"Going over there makes you feel right at home,'' Fuamatu-Ma'afala said.

Just like coming to Jacksonville has made Owens feel as if he never left Honolulu.

"I couldn't have asked for a better situation,'' Owens said. "Now it's up to me to make the most of it.''

Bart Hubbuch is the Jacksonville Jaguars beat writer for the Florida Times-Union.