By
Pete Pelegrin
Twitter: @Petepelegrin
Like his demeanor FIU's top offensive threat tends to work quietly.
It comes as no surprise before the Panthers start their daily practice to find senior
Thomas Owens already drenched in sweat from trying to perfect his routes or from honing his footwork. After practice Owens is usually one of the last players to leave, opting to get more work in or help out a fellow receiver or defensive back.
One of the most productive receivers in FIU's 16-year football history -- Owens or T.O. as he's known to his teammates and coaches -- has embraced the grind to become one of college football's best all-around receivers.
"I was talking to [FIU football strength coach]
Chad Smith about Thomas because a lot of the pro scouts are coming in asking questions about him," FIU coach
Butch Davis said. "He said this kid has had a remarkable work ethic flip over the last year and a half to two years. His work ethic at practice, watching film, lifting in the weight room. He is dialed in, laser-focused about having a great season. I think he also values the aspect of being a complete player. It's not all about catching five, six, seven, eight passes every game. He is as good a run blocker as a wide receiver as I have been around. He'll dig out safeties and crack on linebackers and he's taken a lot of pride in that. He's getting on Saturdays what he has earned."
Statistically, Owens has earned plenty. Besides being FIU's best receiver this season and having plenty of NFL scouts' attention at practice, Owens is chasing FIU history.
Not counting a possible bowl game later this season, Owens (40 catches) is on pace for 70 receptions which would be two shy of T.Y. Hilton's FIU record 72 catches in a season.
Owens (728 yards) is also on pace to become just the second 1,000-yard receiver in FIU history. Hilton holds the single-season record with 1,038 yards in 2011. Owens is on pace for 1,248 yards. Hilton, the NFL's receiving leader last season for the Indianapolis Colts, had two 1,000-yard seasons in an FIU uniform.
Owens already shares the FIU single season receiving touchdowns record of eight with former FIU tight end
Jonnu Smith. Owens (5 TDs) is on pace for 10 TDs this season.
With at least five games left in his FIU career Owens has 20 career receiving touchdowns, which is currently third in FIU history, two behind inaugural FIU receiver Cory McKinney's 22. Hilton, as you might expect, holds the record with 24 receiving scores.
And finally Owens has four 100-yard receiving games this season which currently has him tied with Hilton for second in an FIU season. McKinney holds that record with five 100-yard games in FIU's first season of football in 2002.
Owens has eight career 100-yard receiving games tied for second with McKinney. Hilton holds the FIU career record with 11.
Records are nice but Owens, who doesn't say much, is focused on more important goals such as leading the Panthers to their third bowl game and a possible shot at a conference championship – FIU (3-1 C-USA record) trails Florida Atlantic (4-0) by one game for first place in Conference USA's East Division.
"I've seen [the FIU receiving records] on Twitter every now and then but I try not to focus on it," said Owens, who has never met Hilton. "I just try to get better and see what things I can fix. I work on it daily so when game time comes I will be prepared."
FIU senior cornerback Brad Muhammad arrived at FIU in 2013 one season before Owens's freshman year. Muhammad remembers the first time he covered Owens in practice.
"T.O. is a lot more elusive than when I first went against him," said Muhammad, who is the reigning Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week. "He always had great ball skills but it used to be easier to guard him in his routes. Now he learned how to play with your leverage. The way he plays with your leverage gets you off balance. He plays with your hips. He does a lot of veteran moves that help me to progress as a defensive back."
Owens is currently on a roll having hauled in more than 100 yards in each of his last four games, including a season-high 162 yards at Middle Tennessee – four yards shy of his career high at Indiana in 2015.
"When you do the little things and when you know there is still room for improvement and you work on that then you have a chance to get better," said FIU receivers coach
Aubrey Hill. "Right now T.O. is in a zone."
A zone that Owens is likely to stay in because of his devotion to his craft.
"T.O. barely says anything but when he does speak you have to listen to him because it's obviously important," quarterback
Alex McGough said. "People see him making plays on the field and they are like 'How does he do it?' It's probably because he's still out here getting extra routes and I think that's a big leadership role that he has owned."
