WARRIORS IN THE NFL
Owens refuses to give up on NFL dream
The UH alumnus is more comfortable in his second year in camp with the Jags
By Randy Rorrer
Special to the Star-Bulletin
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. » Chad Owens was one of the darlings of last season's Jacksonville Jaguars training camp.
The Jags drafted him in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft to compete for the kick returning jobs, but he turned as many heads in camp with his receiving skills.
The former Roosevelt High and University of Hawaii star did enough to make the squad, and returned three punts for 6 yards for the Jags against the Indianapolis Colts.
Unfortunately for Owens, the problem he experienced fielding punts in the preseason continued to plague him against the Colts, and he was relegated to Jacksonville's practice squad for the rest of the year.
Owens is now back in Jacksonville's training camp, and he's trying to earn another opportunity.
"I learned from it," Owens said of last season. "I don't really want to think about last year. I've moved on. It's a new year, and I look forward to a new opportunity."
Owens said this year's camp is much different.
"It's a whole lot easier," Owens said. "It's more comfortable. Nothing is new. I feel things are starting to click."
Owens, who left Hawaii with 14 school receiving and kick return records, has a new focus this season.
He's not worried about how many first-round draft picks are ahead of him on the depth chart. He's also not worried about free-agent receivers Jacksonville has brought in.
"Those are things I can't really control, and I'm not even thinking about it," said Owens, who spent Friday working with the second group of Jaguars receivers and as the first option on the punt return team. "That was something I was worried about last year. That was on my mind. I was thinking 'I hope I make it, I hope I make it.'
"You can't do that. You have to go out every day and prepare to have the best practice you can have and control what you can do."
The Jags have noticed.
"He had a great camp last year," Jacksonville head coach Jack Del Rio said. "He's having another solid camp. I think he learned from his experiences last year. We all do. He's no different than anybody else. He's more comfortable this year. He's working hard, and he's doing a nice job."
The hard work is something Hawaii fans are familiar with.
"What I do on the field and what I put into something never changes," said Owens, who was the Jags' leading receiver during last year's preseason. "That part of me will always remain the same. Working hard and trying to be the best I can be will always remain the same."
Owens is one of four Hawaii players in Jacksonville's camp. Vince Manuwai and Chris Naeole worked out with the starting offensive line Thursday. Wayne Hunter is also vying for a roster spot as an offensive lineman.
Owens hopes the hard work will pay off with a roster spot, because he's expecting big things from the Jags this season.
"We've got a lot of talent on this team," Owens said of Jacksonville, which went 12-4 last season. "I'm really excited for this season to get started, because I want to see how far we can get. I believe we can make it to the top this year."
Owens has a message for his hometown fans:
"I'm still here. I'm still plugging away, and I plan to be here for a long time. I'm out here representing and doing whatever I can."