Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Owens ready to be focal point of offense
MIAMI — Florida International senior Thomas Owens is in elite company when it comes to nicknames and comparisons.
His teammates and position coach refer to him as “TO” after Terrell Owens. His coach says his abilities are similar to those of Michael Irvin.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Owens, an Atlantic High graduate, just wants to be himself so he can focus on being the Panthers’ primary target when they open the season at Central Florida on Thursday.
“It’s a great feeling being compared to Michael Irvin,” Owens said. “He’s a Hall of Famer. Like I said, I just try to stay focused on what’s important now.”
With tight end Jonnu Smith now in the NFL, Owens becomes the No. 1 threat in the passing game. Last year he caught 47 passes for 652 yards and seven touchdowns, which were all season-highs. He earned honorable mention All-Conference USA accolades but is a preseason first-team selection entering this season.
The Irvin comparison comes from FIU coach Butch Davis, who would know better than most. Davis was on the Dallas Cowboys staff part of the time Irvin was among the league’s best.
“One of the best things is he’s physical,” Davis said. “I always kind of hate drawing a comparison between the guys on your team and the guys who you have coached, but a lot of his game is very, very similar to Michael Irvin. He’s a big, strong, physical wide receiver. He catches the ball in traffic. He’s one of the most consistent guys that we have catching the ball.”
Owens spent most of the spring and preseason adjusting to his new role. He understands opponents will scheme to stop him.
“I’m up for it,” Owens said. “It might be a little extra work, but the extra work won’t hurt me. I’m just trying to stay consistent with everything. I’m trying to stay the same, but I knew coming in this was my last season.”
What separates Owens from other receivers is his willingness to make catches in traffic. He’s also considered one of the team’s best blockers regardless of position.
“He’ll go in and get the slants,” receivers coach Aubrey Hill said. “He makes the tough plays, the plays that you have to make to move the chains. That’s a good credit to a receiver. Naturally, guys just want to run down field and score touchdowns but at the end of the day it’s those catches that really move the chains.”
The Panthers are also expecting Owens to serve as the leader to a relatively young receivers unit. He is easily the most experienced at the position.
“When I first saw him in the spring, I saidM,`an, this kid can make a big play,” Hill said. “A four-year senior, he brings that leadership and he also brings that consistent play … We’re excited to have him leading this group because we have some young guys coming in as well and he’s done a good job with them.”