Owens is all business
By Bart Hubbuch
Special to The Advertiser
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Three days into his first NFL minicamp, Chad Owens' head was still spinning yesterday.
Advertiser library photo • Nov. 27, 2004
Already groggy from a nine-hour plane flight and the six-hour time difference, Owens was further overwhelmed by the Jacksonville Jaguars' playbook and his first experience in an NFL camp.
Chad Owens basked in the glow of a 49-41 win over Northwestern with son Chad Jr. The ex-UH star scored five TDs in the game.
For Owens, a former University of Hawai'i wide receiver and return specialist, the excitement of being a sixth-round draft pick by the Jaguars had quickly worn off.
"This is hard work,'' Owens said yesterday after the Jaguars ended a three-day minicamp for rookies and veterans. "It's not just fun and games now. The (veterans) have families and this is how they eat, take care of their families and pay for things. So you realize right away that this is serious business.''
Owens, who set UH records for points, receptions, touchdowns, punt-return yards and punt returns for touchdowns, became the fourth player from Hawai'i on the Jaguars' roster when they picked him 185th overall last month.
Owens joined offensive linemen Chris Naeole and Vince Manuwai and running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala on the Jaguars' list of players from Hawai'i. Owens and Manuwai also were teammates at Hawai'i for three seasons.
"It's kind of surprising to see so many Hawaiians here, because we're a long way from there,'' Owens said. "It's comforting, though, a lot more than if I was here by myself.''
Round (overall) 1 (21) Matt Jones, wr, Arkansas 2 (52) Khalif Barnes, ot, Washington 3 (87) Scott Starks, db, Wisconsin 4 (127) Alvin Pearman, rb, Virginia 5 (157) Gerald Sensabaugh, db, North Carolina 6 (185) Chad Owens, wr, Hawai'i 6 (194) Pat Thomas, lb, North Carolina State 7 (237) Chris Roberson, db, Eastern Michigan
Owens' fellow Islanders appear to have warmed quickly to him, as well. Manuwai, who has started at left guard most of his first two seasons with the Jaguars, welcomed Owens' arrival.
Jacksonville draft picks
"He's got a lot of talent, especially as a return guy,'' Manuwai said. "He's not big, but he's really quick. Plus, it's always good to have people from the Islands when you're this far away.''
Owens' best chance of making the roster is as a kick returner. The Jaguars lacked explosiveness at that spot last season, and Owens' primary competition is former undrafted free agent and emergency fill-in David Allen.
Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio broke into a wide smile when asked about Owens' return ability.
"Chad Owens is an electrifying returner, really exciting to watch,'' Del Rio said. "I don't know if any of our coaches or scouts ever saw him fair-catch a ball (in college).''
Owens' first minicamp with the Jaguars appeared to be a struggle at times. He bobbled a handful of kick returns and was not heavily involved in the passing drills, even though No. 1 pick Matt Jones — a fellow receiver — missed the final two days of practice with a hamstring injury.
Owens said he just hoped to make an impression on the coaches with his work ethic.
"It's hard to tell, because everything is new,'' he said. "I hope I accomplished what the coaches expected, which is to come in here, work hard and do what they asked me to do. We'll see.''
The experience certainly left Owens wanting more.
"It's an opportunity of a lifetime, something I've been waiting for my whole life,'' he said. "I came here to enjoy myself, but also to put in a lot of work. It's a business now, and I realize that.
"The good thing is, I still believe I should be here. I feel like I belong.''
