Jabs & Haymakers: Healthy Owens aims to improve A&M's 1-2 punch

Any good fighter knows at least two strong punches are needed.

A cross is needed to compliment a jab. If a rival anticipates the hook, hit ‘em with a haymaker.

Though not in the pugilistic sense, Texas A&M’s Rueben Owens has proven to be a fighter. If he can stay in the ring — or the running back rotation — he can be the cross to Le’Veon Moss’ jab and the haymaker to the hook.

Moss, of course, is A&M’s All-SEC running back, who was on his way to a 1,000-yard season before a knee injury sustained early in the ninth game vs. South Carolina prematurely ended his season. He finished with 765 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.

Who knows? Owens might have made a run at 1,000 yards, too, if not for a “lower leg” injury sustained in August that forced him out of the Aggies’ first 11 games.

Owens recovered in time to play against Texas in which he rushed three times for 10 yards. He then rushed 13 times for 56 yards against USC in the Las Vegas Bowl.

He estimated he was at “75 to 80” percent health back then. Now, in spring football, Owens is almost back to the form that made him a five-star prospect coming out of El Campo High School in 2023.

“It still has a little pain to do it,” Owens said of his injury. “It’s nothing I can’t get through spring, but I feel way better than I did in the bowl game.”

The pain from the injury might not have hurt as much as missing most of last season.

By all accounts, Owens was having a strong camp and was pushing Moss for the starting job.

“It really hurt because I felt like I was having a good fall camp,” Owens said. “I thought I would have a big sophomore year.”

He could be looking at a big year as a third-year sophomore next season.

The Aggies could have a better passing attack with more speed added at receiver and with improvement from quarterback Marcel Reed, who, too, is a running threat.

Also, the Aggies offensive line returns intact and adds center Mark Nabou Jr., who also returns from injury. The Aggies are experienced, big and proven up front.

Owens could gain substantial yardage in 2025 because of the gains he has had in the offseason. He said he gained about 10 pounds of muscle since last year. He’s listed as 6-foot and 215 pounds.

“I feel like it will help me,” Owens said. “I got way stronger. I feel like that will help me break tackles. Run harder. In short yardage when you’ve got to get it, it’ll help me with that.”

He’s also gained an opportunity to get extra reps this spring because Moss remains in the healing process.

More importantly, though, is that he gained a new perspective from sitting out most of last season.

“The biggest thing that’s been good about Rueben is, from the time that he got hurt in fall camp until even still now, just the way he’s attacked this thing,” head coach Mike Elko said. “You see how passionate he is about football. You see how important it is that he believes — and we all believe — he’s capable of.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

In 15 career games, Rueben Owens has carried the ball 117 times for 451 yards and three touchdowns.

“When a kid has a setback like that, you just don’t know where the mind goes. Do you see him pull away? Does he get frustrated? You haven’t seen any of that from him. He’s attacked every bit of it.

“He still needs to get his timing back...learn running mechanics again. This is an important spring for him to be able to go out and do the things that he needs to do to get himself playing the way he wanted to and, certainly, the way he was prior to the injury.”

Of course, the Aggies hope for the same from Moss. When he was injured, Owens was a source of encouragement.

“I just told him it’s going to be alright,” Owens said. “It’s football. Injuries happen. You’ve got to have a strong mind to get through it. Once you get healthy, you’re back to your usual self.”

When Owens and Moss are fully healthy to join Amari Daniels, who rushed for 661 yards last season, the Aggies will have running back depth any team in the country would covet.

Owens and Moss, in particular, could possibly form the best one-two punch of running backs in the Southeastern Conference.

“Le’Veon is a really powerful runner,” Owens said. “He’s a strong runner. I’m more of a finesse runner.”

Well, about as much finesse as a haymaker can have.