Owens could be a key piece of UNM offense
Davie expects role to expand for sophomore running back
Tyrone Owens by the numbers: Last year as a redshirt freshman, Owens, a UNM running back, wore jersey No. 26. This year, he’s wearing No. 25, made available by the departure of 2015 senior David Anaya. Owens wore No. 25 while starring for Manor (Texas) High School before coming to Albuquerque.
During his career at Manor, an Austin suburb, Owens rushed for 2,975 yards and averaged almost 9 yards a carry. He signed with UNM in February 2014.
After sitting out that fall, he saw limited action last season: 118 yards on 24 carries, though those totals include a 65-yard touchdown run in a loss to Arizona State.
There could be more where that came from. On the first play in a preseason scrimmage last week, he scored on a long run.
“It was just wide open, really,” Owens said after Wednesday’s practice at University Stadium. “I just hit downhill, read my keys, followed my blocks.”
Lobos coach Bob Davie expects Owens’ season totals to increase markedly this fall.
“Valuable, valuable guy,” Davie said. “When you look at what he does for us in different phases on offense . ... He’s not the biggest guy, but he may be the toughest guy. So there’s a big role for him on offense, and if you look at just about every special team, he’s on it.”
Owens, listed by UNM as weighing 187 pounds and standing 5-foot-9, runs with power that belies those numbers.
“I’ve just got that mentality,” he said. “Go hard every time. It doesn’t matter how big you are, how small you are.”
It probably does matter how strong you
are. Consider this number: 1,355, the total pounds Owens hoisted at a powerlifting meet during his senior year at Manor — 525 squat, 330 bench press, 500 dead lift.
Owens could be considered the heir not only to Anaya’s number, but to his role on the team as Mr. Versatility: rushing, receiving, blocking, special teams.
“‘T.O.’s a guy,” Lobos offensive coordinator Bob DeBesse said, “that comes to work every day and does everything pretty dang good. You don’t have to worry about T.O. being in there (if) it’s pass protection or pitching the ball or whatever, running between the tackles. He’s just a steady-Eddie, hard-nosed guy who I think is maturing, I think is learning to trust.
“He’s kind of cutting loose and having fun.”
When UNM releases a depth chart next week in advance of the Sept. 1 season opener against South Dakota, Owens’ No. 25 might not be on it. Senior Teriyon Gipson is the clear No. 1 at running back; juniors Richard McQuarley and Daryl Chestnut might well be second and third.
Yet, Owens has no concerns that he’ll be relegated to the sidelines or special teams.
“We’ve all got our own little niche,” he said. “We can all do different things, so whenever our number is called we’ve just got to go out there and do it.”
Davie has no doubt that No. 25 will see plenty of action.
“When you find a guy with that kind of speed and that toughness (and) loves football, we’ll find a role for a guy like that,” Davie said. “He’s gonna play a lot of snaps.”
Owens said he has gradually gained confidence on and off the field since coming to UNM.
“It started with my grades, just getting better as a person, really,” he said. “That carried over to the field.
“We just want to have a winning season, go to another bowl game, try to win a Mountain
West (Conference) championship. I feel like we can do it, if we put the pieces together and go out and do what we’ve got to do.” GAMBLIN: Senior slot receiver Dameon Gamblin was to leave today for Dallas, where his father, Larry Gamblin, died unexpectedly earlier this week. Gamblin was at practice Tuesday and Wednesday after learning of his father’s death.
“He just felt better being out here the last two days,” Davie said.
INJURY REPORT: Senior offensive lineman Garrett Adcock did not practice Wednesday while recovering from a blow to the head suffered last week.
“He got kicked in practice the other day and he has some symptoms, a little nausea, but he’s much better,” Davie said. “Hopefully when we start (game-week practice) on Saturday . ... He’s back out here full speed.”