HONOLULU – University of Hawai‘i football phenom Chad Owens (5-9, 177, Sr) was named second team All-American as an all-purpose runner, by the Associated Press and recipient of the Mosi Tatupu Award, given to the nation’s best special teams senior.
HONOLULU – University of Hawai‘i football phenom Chad Owens (5-9, 177, Sr) was named second team All-American as an all-purpose runner, by the Associated Press and recipient of the Mosi Tatupu Award, given to the nation’s best special teams senior.
Owens, the first UH player to receive the Tatupu Award, is the third player in UH football history to be named second team All-American by the Associated Press.
In 1986, Al Noga became, and remains the only player to be named to the first team, while Larry Khan-Smith earned second team honors as a return specialist in 1988. Former Warrior Ashley Lelie (WR, 2001), Jason Elam (PK, 1991), and Walter Murray (WR, 1985), all earned third team honors.
Owens, a walk-on out of Roosvelt High School on O‘ahu, is coming off a career performance, hauling in 13 passes for a career-high 283 yards, and four touchdowns (4 receiving, 1 pr) to help the Warriors upset Michigan State, 41-38, and earn a trip to the Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl.
Last week, Owens was named second team All-American by Sports Illustrated. The first team all-WAC selection tied the school record with five touchdowns (4 receving, 1 pr) to help the Warriors defeat Northwestern on Nov. 27.
Owens led the nation in receptions per game for six straight weeks (Sept. 5 through Oct. 10), and ranks fourth nationally averaging 7.83 catches per game, and ninth nationally, in receiving yards per game (98.0). He also ranks 14th nationally in punt return yardage, averaging 14.2 yards, and is tied for ninth nationally in scoring, averaging 9.5 points per game.
In 2004, Owens led the Warriors with a school record 94 catches for 1,176 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also recorded 31 punt returns for 441 yards, and a school record four touchdowns, while leading the Warriors averaging 138.5 yards per game (1,662).
Owens, who earned WAC Player of the Week honors three times in 2004, ranks on the UH career list in five categories including receptions (231), receiving yards (2nd, 2,917), all-purpose yards (1st, 5,257), kickoff return yards (3rd, 1,354), and punt return yards (1st, 924).
