Scouting Journals for Rueben Owens

The most explosive runner and best pass-catcher among top running backs in the 2023 cycle. Checked in around 5-foot-11, 195 pounds as a senior. Dominates mid-level competition, rushing for 7,089 yards and 101 touchdowns over his four-year high school career. Had a huge junior season, totaling nearly 3,000 rushing yards and 46 touchdowns. Extremely efficient, averaging nearly 12 yards per carry for his career. Pairs very good long-speed with a high-end initial burst. Has run sub-11.0 second marks in the 100 meters and carries that speed over to the field. Regularly pulls away from the competition. Bounces off tacklers at the high school level. Has also shown advanced ball skills as a pass catcher in the 7-on-7 setting. Looks to have wide receiver ball skills and appears to be the most natural pass catcher among blue-chip backs in the cycle. Does not have a huge frame. Will need to add mass to his lower body to optimize leg drive and durability. Can continue to improve his lateral agility as he gears down to cut at times. Older for the class, turning 19 years old in the middle of his senior season.

Rueben Owens looks to be fully up to speed after missing some time with an injury earlier in the season. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder had a huge game against Navasota (Texas) High on Friday, rushing for 291 yards and five touchdowns on 35 carries. Owens ripped off a number of big runs, showing strong initial burst and a considerable juice at the second level. Owens’ pace in the open field is among the best among running backs in the 2023 cycle. We also saw the top 100 prospect see time and make plays as a safety. Owens has long been one of the more productive rushers in the cycle, but his usage within the El Campo Ricebird offense doesn’t fully showcase complete skill set, as the Louisville pledge is also a refined pass catcher.

Rueben Owens is a top performer at OT7 due to the skills he showed as a pass-catching threat over the weekend in Las Vegas. As we noted in the prior Top Performer pieces, Owens flashed a receiving skill set that would be considered elite for a running back prospect. The El Campo (Texas) High standout lined up at receiver for Premium LA and made sound outstanding highlight catches over several days at OT7. His quarterback play was probably not as consistent as some other skill players, but Owens still made plays. We saw him make a one-handed catch on a back shoulder route, extend for a toe-tapping touchdown in the end zone and make a nice catch over his outside shoulder. Owens will bring some real versatility to the table at the next level as a receiving threat out of the backfield.