UMass commit Kai Owens, Carmel top Marian Catholic
As a rare four -year academic player, Kai Owens of Carmel was exposed by almost everything there is to live in a career.
Once a first -year -old wide receiver is trying to make a good impression, the 6 -foot senior 2 inches and 175 pounds has become a foundation of the program which not only made big games on both sides of the ball, but also prepares younger teammates for similar trips.
“Being a veteran is delivered with challenges, but is also accompanied by many good things,” said Owens. “People admire you, but you have to stand for a certain standard because you want young people to follow in the same steps you have followed.
“The older guys for me have given a good base to follow for me, and I just want to keep this foundation and transmit it to the young generation.”
Owens can do this by showing an example. Friday, the UMASS commission made two Touchés in the victory of Carmel 70-7 on Marian Catholic in a CCL / ESCC cross match in Chicago Heights.
Owens has a smooth and silky stride when he is in the open field, trying to shake a defender or run away after catching a pass of the Junior Trae Taylor quarter. Owens’ first score was a 3 yards while Taylor stayed on his feet long in front of the short field pressure to see Owens free himself in the goal area. The second score of Owens, a 29 yards, had the look of a game that he and Taylor can perform at will with a bad direction and a perfectly executed route.
Taylor, who had 11 out of 13 for 149 yards and five affected for the Corsairs (4-1) while playing in front of his future university coach, Matt Rhule of Nebraska, also connected for scores with the Large Senior Eli Jackson, the junior receiver Kyron Hart and the wide receiver of Sophomore Gregory Bess-Henning II.
It was Owens’ third multi -custom match of the season, but its production is no longer limited to the offensive. It is also half a starting corner.
“You saw how it was on his plate this evening, playing attack and defense,” said Carmel coach Jason McKie. “He made games in attack, he made games on the defense and is released and plays a high level.
“It was like that all year round. He is like our glue guy. We can put him anywhere, and we are convinced that he will go out and show consistency in every match.”
Owens did his second interception of the season Friday on a rocking ball and returned it to the 3 yards line by Marian Catholic.
“The defensive coordinator definitively wants us to get six years when we get interceptions,” he said. “So next week, if I receive another, I have to enter the goal area.”
While jokingly, Owens’ fluidity on defense makes sense. He certainly has a multitude of knowledge on the functioning of receivers, and his athletics is also useful.
“Arriving in the season, especially with the record (4-7) that we had last year, we wanted to have the best athletes on the field and we just wanted to win,” he said. “We don’t have a big list, so if I have to play in both directions for us to win, that’s what I have to do.
“I am with everything I have to do to help us win, and sometimes it’s fun to be on the other side striking people instead of being hit. It’s really good.”
It is good for the Corsairs to have Owens who directs a reception body which includes younger talented players like Hart and Bess-Henning.
“It is good to learn from him every day, to be able to train with him and to learn things like how to execute routes that I have never launched before,” said Bess-Henning. “He tells me to be a better person than yesterday and keep my notes. He is always on me on my notes so that I can enter a good college. ”
McKie has long known Owens, who has signed up in Umass in June, has intelligence to succeed.
“He’s so smart, and that’s why he was able to play in the first year,” said McKie. “The terminology and the diagram were not too big for him, and he always knew what to do.”
Owens also knows that measurables are a small part of its global ensemble.
“Eighty percent of the match is mental,” he said. “If you know what you are doing and know what other teams are doing, it’s a real advantage.
“Being one of the most intelligent guys on the ground helps you open or being in the right position to play the game. Being an intelligent receiver certainly helps me get the separation I get or find the defense points.”
Steve Reven is an independent journalist.
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