Chasing History: Senior receiver is having record breaking season

By Brett Shweky/Sports Director

With FIU marching down the field against the UTSA Roadrunners on Homecoming night, senior wide receiver Thomas Owens capped off the team’s 93 yard drive by catching a 13-yard touchdown pass to score the Panthers first touchdown of the game.

This score brought Owens’ season total to six and his career total to 21, only one touchdown shy of tying former FIU receiver Cory McKinney for second all-time in career receiving touchdowns. The program’s all-time leader in career receiving touchdowns is T.Y. Hilton with 24.

The senior receiver explained how even though breaking the record is on Owens’ mind; his main concern is to get better each and every week.

“It feels great, but I mean, that’s not really the main focus,” Thomas said. “I pray and hope I get it, but like I say, we’re just trying to get better week by week.”

The senior out of Boynton Beach, Florida, has had four 100-yard receiving games this season going into the matchup against Old Dominion. The record for most 100-yard receiving games in a season is also held by McKinney with five.

Senior quarterback Alex McGough discussed that Owens is always working hard each game and he is one of the toughest players on the roster.

“He’s got heart, he’s got grit just like every other player in that locker room,” said McGough. “Every game he’s always battling, and he knows that I believe in him and Coach Davis believes in him. So he just comes out and fights every single week.”

Going into the game against Old Dominion, Owens had 48 receptions for 800 receiving yards and six touchdowns. The 800 receiving yards are sixth best in a single season and is only 238 yards away from tying T.Y. Hilton’s single-season record with 1,038.

He is fourth all-time in career receiving yard with 2,090 and recently became the sixth player in program history to record 2,000 receiving yards in their career.

Owens discussed how during the offseason and training camp, he worked on the technical aspect of the game and also tried to gain a better understanding of opposing defensive schemes.

“In the offseason, I worked a good amount on reading different coverages, trying to understand different reads so the game will slow down for me a little bit more,” said Owens.

The Atlantic Community High School graduate has been an instrumental part of the Panthers success on offense this season and has been one of the driving forces behind the Panthers’ best start in school history.

Owens and the rest of the Panthers will travel to Boca Raton this Saturday, Nov. 18, to take on the Florida Atlantic Owls in the Shula Bowl, as the team looks to defeat their conference rival. Kickoff from FAU Stadium will be at 7:00 p.m.