JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Chad Owens celebrated at his family's home yesterday after learning he'd been selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round of the NFL Draft.

Jags take Owens

The former UH slotback will join
Manuwai, Fuamatu-Ma‘afala
and Naeole in Jacksonville

Chad Owens built a stellar college football career by making things happen.

But the NFL Draft doesn't work that way.

You invite your friends and relatives over, maybe get the grill going.

Then, unless you're one of the chosen first few, you watch ESPN and you sit and wait.

And wait ... and wait some more. Some wait overnight.

All this waiting goes completely against a football player's nature -- especially that of a playmaker like Owens, a second-team Associated Press All-American as a receiver and kick returner.

"I was getting a little, not worried, but anxious," Owens said yesterday morning, after he was drafted in the sixth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars. "This morning I was glued to the TV set from the start.

The hours and the rounds went by. Fourth, fifth.

"When the phone did ring, I was in the bathroom. I saw (area code) 808, and it was Coach Jones, wishing me luck and telling me to stay positive," Owens said.

A few minutes later, his phone rang again. This time it was an unfamiliar area code: 906.

Jacksonville.

"I was like, 'This is it,' " Owens said.

He was not surprised. The Jaguars were on Owens from early in the process. Their scout at the Hula Bowl spent lots of time talking to him after each practice. He was given a load of Jaguars gear at the NFL Combine.

"They're one of the teams, if not the team, that showed the most interest," Owens said. "I'm happy they chose to stay with me."

The cap they gave him came in handy yesterday.

"It's the only NFL hat I have," Owens said, while getting ready for a press conference at his home in Nuuanu.

He sat in front of a huge, colorful banner that said, "Owens NFL Bound." It was drawn by Blake Harano, his friend and teammate from Roosevelt High School and UH.

"He really deserves this," Harano said. "I can't think of a better person for this to happen to. From the time we were little kids, he was always the most competitive and the hardest worker."

This is the latest chapter in the 5-foot-7, 183-pound Owens' ongoing story of beating the odds.

Although he is undeniably talented, he is also lacking in some of the attributes the NFL uses to rate prospects, including size and speed.

Being chosen in the sixth of seven rounds doesn't make him feel like a throwaway pick.

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said Owens was one of the players Jacksonville "targeted."

"He said he's waiting for me to come over there and be the guy," Owens said. "They don't have a return guy."

They do have some local guys.

Offensive linemen Vince Manuwai (Farrington, UH) and Chris Naeole (Kahuku) and running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala (Saint Louis) are also from Hawaii; that should make the transition to the NFL and Northeast Florida a little easier for Owens, who has never been past the Mississippi River.

Owens, the 24th receiver chosen in the draft, hopes for the opportunity to play some wideout or slot with the Jaguars.

He reports to Jacksonville for a rookie minicamp Friday.

"I'm relieved. It's an awesome feeling. A lifelong dream became a reality," Owens said.

Kahuku and Utah alum Chris Kemoe'atu also waited longer than expected. Projected by most prognosticators to go on the first day, Kemoe'atu was chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers, also in the sixth round, with the 204th pick overall.

He didn't like waiting, but he's happy with the destination.

"Oh yeah," Kemoe'atu said when asked about the Steelers' smashmouth reputation. "That's me, that's what I like, hard-nosed football."

Kemoe'atu said he was told he was chosen late because of a knee injury from his junior year.

"They said because I had the knee 'scoped, I was kind of a gamble," he said. "But that was two years ago, and I played every game last season, never missed a practice."

Kemoe'atu joins Molokai High graduate Kimo von Oelhoffen, a defensive end, on the Steelers. There has been some talk Kemoe'atu might be moved to defensive line.

If he remains on the O-line, he could get matched up twice a season against his brother, Ma'ake, who plays D-line for the Baltimore Ravens.

"Or three times, if we get in the playoffs," Chris said.

Kemoe'atu said he hadn't spoken with his Utah teammate, quarterback Alex Smith, since Smith was drafted No. 1 by the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday.

"He's probably busy. I heard he put in a good word for me. He's a great guy. I'm excited for him," Kemoe'atu said.

Safety Aaron Francisco, Kemoe'atu's Kahuku teammate, went undrafted but joined the Arizona Cardinals quickly as a free agent. He reports to Phoenix on Friday.

Kahuku could have six players in the NFL this year if Kemoe'atu and Francisco both make the final cuts.

Defensive tackle Lui Fuga (Waipahu, UH) accepted a free-agent invitation from the San Diego Chargers. He reports for a rookie mini-camp May 5.

"It's a great opportunity. All I asked for was a chance," said Fuga, who also had offers from the Colts and Dolphins. "I like San Diego. I have three sisters who live there, and I like the Chargers' system."

Another defensive tackle, Matt Faga (Kaimuki, UH) decided to accept an offer from the Miami Dolphins over one from the Oakland Raiders.

"The Dolphins seemed more interested in me," Faga said. "One of the coaches was with the 49ers last year, and he said I reminded him of Isaac (Sopoaga, a fourth-round draft pick in 2004 from UH).

UH quarterback Tim Chang and cornerback Abraham Elimimian both went undrafted. Neither returned phone messages.

Fullback West Keli'ikipi (Waianae, UH) did not receive any free-agent offers yesterday, according to his agent, Richard Wurdeman.

2005 Team-by-Team Results

Arizona
1 (8) Antrel Rolle, db, Miami.
2 (44) J.J. Arrington, rb, California.
3 (75) Eric Green, db, Virginia Tech.
3 (95) Darryl Blackstock, lb, Virginia.
4 (111) Elton Brown, g, Virginia.
5 (168) Lance Mitchell, lb, Oklahoma.
7 (226) LeRon McCoy, wr, Indiana, Pa.

Atlanta
1 (27) Roddy White, wr, UAB.
2 (59) Jonathan Babineaux, dt, Iowa.
3 (90) Jordan Beck, lb, Cal Poly-SLO.
4 (128) Chauncey Davis, de, Florida State.
5 (160) Michael Boley, lb, Southern Miss.
5 (163) Frank Omiyale, ot, Tennessee Tech.
6 (201) DeAndra Cobb, rb, Michigan State.
7 (241) Darrell Shropshire, dt, South Carolina.

Baltimore
1 (22) Mark Clayton, wr, Oklahoma.
2 (53) Dan Cody, de, Oklahoma.
2 (64) Adam Terry, ot, Syracuse.
4 (124) Jason Brown, c, North Carolina.
5 (158) Justin Green, rb, Montana.
6 (213) Derek Anderson, qb, Oregon State.
7 (234) Mike Smith, lb, Texas Tech.

Buffalo
2 (55) Roscoe Parrish, wr, Miami.
3 (86) Kevin Everett, te, Miami.
4 (122) Duke Preston, c, Illinois.
5 (156) Eric King, db, Wake Forest.
6 (197) Justin Geisinger, g, Vanderbilt.
7 (236) Lionel Gates, rb, Louisville.

Carolina
1 (14) Thomas Davis, db, Georgia.
2 (54) Eric Shelton, rb, Louisville.
3 (79) Evan Mathis, g, Alabama.
3 (89) Atyyah Ellison, dt, Missouri.
4 (121) Stefan LeFors, qb, Louisville.
5 (149) Adam Seward, lb, UNLV.
5 (169) Geoff Hangartner, ot, Texas A&M.
5 (171) Ben Emanuel, db, UCLA.
6 (189) Jovan Haye, de, Vanderbilt.
6 (207) Joe Berger, ot, Michigan Tech.

Chicago
1 (4) Cedric Benson, rb, Texas.
2 (39) Mark Bradley, wr, Oklahoma.
4 (106) Kyle Orton, qb, Purdue.
5 (140) Airese Currie, wr, Clemson.
6 (181) Chris Harris, db, Louisiana-Monroe.
7 (220) Rodriques Wilson, rb, South Carolina.

Cincinnati
1 (17) David Pollack, lb, Georgia.
2 (48) Odell Thurman, lb, Georgia.
3 (83) Chris Henry, wr, West Virginia.
4 (119) Eric Ghiaciuc, c, Central Michigan.
5 (153) Adam Kieft, ot, Central Michigan.
6 (190) Tab Perry, wr, UCLA.
7 (233) Jonathan Fanene, de, Utah.

Cleveland
1 (3) Braylon Edwards, wr, Michigan.
2 (34) Brodney Pool, db, Oklahoma.
3 (67) Charlie Frye, qb, Akron.
4 (103) Antonio Perkins, db, Oklahoma.
5 (139) David McMillan, lb, Kansas.
6 (176) Nick Speegle, lb, New Mexico.
6 (203) Andrew Hoffman, de, Virginia.
7 (217) Jon Dunn, ot, Virginia Tech.

Dallas
1 (11) DeMarcus Ware, de, Troy.
1 (20) Marcus Spears, de, LSU.
2 (42) Kevin Burnett, lb, Tennessee.
4 (109) Marion Barber III, rb, Minnesota.
4 (132) Chris Canty, de, Virginia.
6 (208) Justin Beriault, db, Ball State.
6 (209) Rob Pettiti, ot, Pittsburgh.
7 (224) Jay Ratliff, dt, Auburn.

Denver
2 (56) Darrent Williams, db, Oklahoma State.
3 (76) Karl Paymah, db, Washington State.
3 (97) Domonique Foxworth, db, Maryland.
3 (101) Maurice Clarett, rb, Ohio State.
6 (200) Chris Myers, ot, Miami.
7 (239) Paul Ernster, k, Northern Arizona.

Detroit
1 (10) Mike Williams, wr, Southern Cal.
2 (37) Shaun Cody, dt, Southern Cal.
3 (72) Stanley Wilson, db, Stanford.
5 (145) Dan Orlovsky, qb, Connecticut.
6 (184) Bill Swancutt, de, Oregon State.
6 (206) Johnathan Goddard, lb, Marshall.

Green Bay
1 (24) Aaron Rodgers, qb, California.
2 (51) Nick Collins, db, Bethune-Cookman.
2 (58) Terrence Murphy, wr, Texas A&M.
4 (115) Marviel Underwood, db, San Diego State.
4 (125) Brady Poppinga, de, BYU.
5 (143) Junius Coston, c, North Carolina A&T.
5 (167) Michael Hawkins, db, Oklahoma.
6 (180) Mike Montgomery, de, Texas A&M.
6 (195) Craig Bragg, wr, UCLA.
7 (245) Kurt Campbell, db, Albany, N.Y.
7 (246) William Whitticker, g, Michigan State.

Houston
1 (16) Travis Johnson, dt, Florida State.
3 (73) Vernand Morency, rb, Oklahoma State.
4 (114) Jerome Mathis, wr, Hampton.
5 (151) Drew Hodgdon, c, Arizona State.
6 (188) C.C. Brown, db, Louisiana-Lafayette.
7 (227) Kenneth Pettway, lb, Grambling.

Indianapolis
1 (29) Marlin Jackson, db, Michigan.
2 (60) Kelvin Hayden, db, Illinois.
3 (92) Vincent Burns, de, Kentucky.
4 (129) Dylan Gandy, g, Texas Tech.
4 (135) Matt Giordano, db, California.
5 (148) Jonathan Welsh, de, Wisconsin.
5 (165) Rob Hunt, c, North Dakota State.
5 (173) Tyjuan Hagler, lb, Cincinnati.
6 (202) Dave Raymer, k, Michigan State.
7 (243) Anthony Davis, rb, Wisconsin.

Jacksonville
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, Hawaii.
6 (194) Pat Thomas, lb, North Carolina State.
7 (237) Chris Roberson, db, Eastern Michigan.

Kansas City
1 (15) Derrick Johnson, lb, Texas.
3 (99) Dustin Colquitt, p, Tennessee.
4 (116) Craphonso Thorpe, wr, Florida State.
5 (138) Boomer Grigsby, lb, Illinois State.
5 (147) Alphonso Hodge, db, Miami (Ohio).
6 (187) Will Svitek, ot, Stanford.
6 (199) Khari Long, de, Baylor.
7 (229) James Killian, qb, Tulsa.
7 (238) Jeremy Parquet, ot, Southern Miss.

Miami
1 (2) Ronnie Brown, rb, Auburn.
2 (46) Matt Roth, de, Iowa.
3 (70) Channing Crowder, lb, Florida.
4 (104) Travis Daniels, db, LSU.
5 (162) Anthony Alabi, ot, TCU.
7 (216) Kevin Vickerson, dt, Michigan State.

Minnesota
1 (7) Troy Williamson, wr, South Carolina.
1 (18) Erasmus James, de, Wisconsin.
2 (49) Marcus Johnson, g, Mississippi.
3 (80) Dustin Fox, db, Ohio State.
4 (112) Ciatrick Fason, rb, Florida.
6 (191) C.J. Mosley, dt, Missouri.
7 (219) Adrian Ward, db, UTEP.

New England
1 (32) Logan Mankins, g, Fresno State.
3 (84) Ellis Hobbs, db, Iowa State.
3 (100) Nick Kaczur, ot, Toledo.
4 (133) James Sanders, db, Fresno State.
5 (170) Ryan Claridge, lb, UNLV.
7 (230) Matt Cassel, qb, Southern Cal.
7 (255) Andy Stokes, te, William Penn.

New Orleans
1 (13) Jammal Brown, ot, Oklahoma.
2 (40) Josh Bullocks, db, Nebraska.
3 (82) Alfred Fincher, lb, Connecticut.
4 (118) Chase Lyman, wr, California.
5 (152) Adrian McPherson, qb, Florida State.
6 (193) Jason Jefferson, dt, Wisconsin.
7 (232) Jimmy Verdon, de, Arizona State.

New York Giants
2 (43) Corey Webster, db, LSU.
3 (74) Justin Tuck, de, Notre Dame.
4 (110) Brandon Jacobs, rb, Southern Illinois.
6 (186) Eric Moore, de, Florida State.

New York Jets
2 (47) Mike Nugent, k, Ohio State.
2 (57) Justin Miller, db, Clemson.
3 (88) Sione Pouha, dt, Utah.
4 (123) Kerry Rhodes, db, Louisville.
5 (161) Andre Maddox, db, North Carolina State.
6 (182) Cedric Houston, rb, Tennessee.
6 (198) Joel Dreessen, te, Colorado State.
7 (240) Harry Williams, wr, Tuskegee.

Oakland
1 (23) Fabian Washington, db, Nebraska.
2 (38) Stanford Routt, db, Houston.
3 (69) Andrew Walter, qb, Arizona State.
3 (78) Kirk Morrison, lb, San Diego State.
6 (175) Anttaj Hawthorne, dt, Wisconsin.
6 (212) Ryan Riddle, lb, California.
6 (214) Pete McMahon, ot, Iowa.

Philadelphia
1 (31) Mike Patterson, dt, Southern Cal.
2 (35) Reggie Brown, wr, Georgia.
2 (63) Matt McCoy, lb, San Diego State.
3 (77) Ryan Moats, rb, Louisiana Tech.
4 (102) Sean Considine, s, Iowa.
4 (126) Todd Herremans, ot, Saginaw Valley State.
5 (146) Trent Cole, de, Cincinnati.
5 (172) Scott Young, g, BYU.
6 (211) Calvin Armstrong, ot, Washington State.
7 (247) Keyonta Marshall, dt, Grand Valley State.
7 (252) David Bergeron, lb, Stanford.

Pittsburgh
1 (30) Heath Miller, te, Virginia.
2 (62) Bryant McFadden, db, Florida State.
3 (93) Trai Essex, ot, Northwestern.
4 (131) Fred Gibson, wr, Georgia.
5 (166) Rian Wallace, lb, Temple.
6 (204) Chris Kemoeatu, g, Utah.
7 (228) Shaun Nua, de, BYU.
7 (244) Noah Herron, rb, Northwestern.

St. Louis
1 (19) Alex Barron, ot, Florida State.
2 (50) Ronald Bartell, db, Howard.
3 (66) Oshiomogho Atogwe, db, Stanford.
3 (81) Richard Incognito, g, Nebraska.
4 (117) Jerome Carter, db, Florida State.
4 (134) Claude Terrell, g, New Mexico.
5 (144) Jerome Collins, te, Notre Dame.
6 (192) Dante Ridgeway, wr, Ball State.
6 (210) Reggie Hodges, p, Ball State.
7 (250) Ryan Fitzpatrick, qb, Harvard.
7 (251) Madison Hedgecock, rb, North Carolina.

San Diego
1 (12) Shawne Merriman, lb, Maryland.
1 (28) Luis Castillo, dt, Northwestern.
2 (61) Vincent Jackson, wr, Northern Colorado.
4 (130) Darren Sproles, rb, Kansas State.
5 (164) Wesley Britt, ot, Alabama.
6 (177) Wes Sims, g, Oklahoma.
7 (242) Scott Mruczkowski, c, Bowling Green.

San Francisco
1 (1) Alex Smith, qb, Utah.
2 (33) David Baas, g, Michigan.
3 (65) Frank Gore, rb, Miami.
3 (94) Adam Snyder, ot, Oregon.
5 (137) Ronald Fields, dt, Mississippi State.
5 (174) Rasheed Marshall, wr, West Virginia.
6 (205) Derrick Johnson, db, Washington.
7 (215) Daven Holly, db, Cincinnati.
7 (223) Marcus Maxwell, wr, Oregon.
7 (248) Patrick Estes, te, Virginia.
7 (249) Billy Bajema, te, Oklahoma State.

Seattle
1 (26) Chris Spencer, c, Mississippi.
2 (45) Lofa Tatupu, lb, Southern Cal.
3 (85) David Greene, qb, Georgia.
3 (98) LeRoy Hill, lb, Clemson.
4 (105) Ray Willis, ot, Florida State.
5 (159) Jeff Huckeba, de, Arkansas.
6 (196) Tony Jackson, rb, Iowa.
7 (235) Cornelius Wortham, lb, Alabama.
7 (254) Doug Nienhuis, ot, Oregon State.

Tampa Bay
1 (5) Carnell Williams, rb, Auburn.
2 (36) Barrett Ruud, lb, Nebraska.
3 (71) Alex Smith, te, Stanford.
3 (91) Chris Colmer, ot, North Carolina State.
4 (107) Dan Buenning, g, Wisconsin.
5 (141) Donte Nicholson, db, Oklahoma.
5 (155) Larry Brackins, wr, Pearl River JC.
6 (178) Anthony Bryant, dt, Alabama.
7 (221) Rick Razzano, rb, Mississippi.
7 (225) Paris Warren, wr, Utah.
7 (231) Hamza Abdullah, db, Washington State.
7 (253) J.R. Russell, wr, Louisville.

Tennessee
1 (6) Adam Jones, db, West Virginia.
2 (41) Michael Roos, ot, Eastern Washington.
3 (68) Courtney Roby, wr, Indiana.
3 (96) Brandon Jones, wr, Oklahoma.
4 (108) Vincent Fuller, db, Virginia Tech.
4 (113) David Stewart, ot, Mississippi State.
4 (136) Roydell Williams, wr, Tulane.
5 (142) Damien Nash, rb, Missouri.
5 (150) Daniel Loper, ot, Texas Tech.
6 (179) Bo Scaife, te, Texas.
7 (218) Reynaldo Hill, db, Florida.

Washington
1 (9) Carlos Rogers, db, Auburn.
1 (25) Jason Campbell, qb, Auburn.
4 (120) Manuel White, rb, UCLA.
5 (154) Robert McCune, lb, Louisville.
6 (183) Jared Newberry, lb, Stanford.
7 (222) Nehemiah Broughton, rb, The Citadel.