Charisma carries tailback Owens deals with UMaine struggles

ORONO – Montell Owens is the perfect student spokesman for the University of Maine football program.

Whether running across Morse Field with a football or walking across campus carrying textbooks, the affable Owens combines charisma with an unmistakable sense of pride and team spirit that rubs off on everyone he meets.

This fall, the senior from Wilmington, Del., has exhibited all of those qualities, and his considerable athletic talents, for the Black Bears.

“He’s a real impressive young man,” said UMaine head coach Jack Cosgrove. “He makes a great presentation in the way he carries himself and he’s been very good here in all aspects of what we ask [of our student-athletes].”

This was supposed to be a breakout season for Owens, a 5-foot-10, 215-pounder who spent his first three seasons in Orono as the backup to all-conference tailback Marcus Williams.

However, his senior season has coincided with the Bears’ rebuilding of their offensive line. The resulting inexperience in key spots hasn’t allowed UMaine to run the ball as effectively as it had hoped.

The speedy Owens has rushed for a 497 yards and four touchdowns while catching 10 passes for 71 yards in seven games. He gained 128 yards in the Oct. 1 win over Albany.

While UMaine goes into Saturday’s Atlantic 10 game at Northeastern with a 3-5 record and ranks 11th in league rushing, Owens hasn’t dwelled on the offense’s struggles.

“You go into the season expecting big things because you’re a ballplayer,” Owens said. “You’ve got to be confident and have a swagger about yourself. When things like this happen, you’re kind of disappointed, but at the same time, that’s just how it goes.”

Owens points out any growing pains the offense has experienced should mean better results in the future.

Despite suffering with a nagging toe injury that caused him to miss one game and has limited his practice time, Owens has demonstrated his ability.

“He’s finally shown what he can do this year when he’s gotten the opportunity,” said Cosgrove, who explained UMaine pressed Owens into service as a freshman because it needed a capable backup for Williams.

Cosgrove said Owens’ work ethic and pride in his performance also rub off on the Bears’ younger running backs.

“He’s a guy that can create his own yards when things aren’t there,” Cosgrove said. “He can make somebody miss and pick up three or four more yards. He’s tough to bring down.”

Owens also has excelled in the classroom and credits parents Ernest and Dawn Owens for paving the way for his success.

It was Montell’s high school assistant principal, Harvey Harvey, who helped him develop his knack for motivating other people.

“This man put so much passion into his job,” Owens said. “He basically used me as an example for all of the kids that were going on the wrong path and he would have me talk to them.”

Owens also is an accomplished trumpeter who, through his teacher, had the chance to play alongside jazz great Wynton Marsalis. He also was earned the right to play with the Arturo Sandoval high school jazz band.

“It’s not a lost art for me. I’m going to keep going with it,” said Owens, whose busy schedule with classes and football have meant the horn has stayed remained mostly its case.

Owens is majoring in kinesiology with a concentration in biology. He hopes to become a physician’s assistant or work in the health field.

Coming off an emotional win over Delaware, Owens and the Bears are focused on building some momentum.