In a crucial situation, Gervarrius Owens made a pivotal difference for Houston.
Texas Tech was tied with the Cougars at 17 with just over a minute to go in the fourth quarter of an FBS matchup. On third and 16 from their own 8-yard line, the Red Raiders decided to take a risk.
As Texas Tech’s quarterback found a receiver deep in the middle of the field, Owens made his move. The Houston safety tracked the ball down in an instant. He reached up and snagged it before it could even reach its intended target.
Because of plays like that, Owens has proven he has a skill set that will set him up for success in the NFL.
What Team Drafted Gervarrius Owens?
Gervarrius Owens was drafted by the Giants in round 7, No. 254 overall
Gervarrius Owens Stats and Highlights
Though he played safety, Owens led Houston with 54 solo tackles and was second on the team with 74 total tackles. He was also second with eight pass breakups.
Owens was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference pick in his junior season and earned All-AAC second-team honors his senior year.
He was top five on the team in total tackles each of his four seasons with the Cougars as he racked up 195 tackles, 132 solo, with 6.5 tackles for loss, 21 passes defended, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery during his time with Houston.
In 2022, Owens was graded as the top safety and best cover safety by Pro Football Focus in the AAC. He was tied for 19th and ranked for 17th, respectively, in those areas in the country.
Gervarrius Owens Draft Projection
Owens would be a valuable selection in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Some have predicted he might go as early as the third round or as late as the sixth.
Gervarrius Owens Draft Profile
Owens is a smart player and is often in exactly the right places to make crucial plays. He also is fast enough to cover a great amount of space.
At the NFL Combine, Owens was fifth among safeties with a broad jump of 10 feet, 5 inches, and was sixth with a 37.5-inch vertical jump. He also bench pressed 15 reps, which tied for 10th.
At Houston’s Pro Day, Owens ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds, which would’ve been in the middle of the pack at the NFL Combine. However, his 20-yard shuttle time of 4.08 seconds would’ve tied for third among all positions and his three-cone drill time of 6.75 seconds would’ve tied for fourth.
This athleticism was on display whenever the ball was in the air during Owens’ collegiate career. He has exceptional closing speed when he needs to disrupt passes and can track down opposing ball carriers in a hurry.
Owens constantly rallies to the ball even when he doesn’t end up with a tackle, though he could sometimes take better pursuit angles. But evidenced by his stats, he embraces contributing to stopping the run. He even lined up at linebacker occasionally at Houston.
Because of all of these abilities, Owens could become a key contributor for an NFL secondary.
