Billy Owens (American football)

Last updated
Billy Owens
No. 31
Position: Safety
Personal information
Born: (1965-12-02) December 2, 1965 (age 57)
Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:207 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school: Christian Brothers Academy
(DeWitt, New York)
College: Pittsburgh
NFL Draft: 1988  / Round: 10 / Pick: 263
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× All-East Coast (1986, 1987)
Career NFL statistics
Games played:16
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR  ·  ArenaFan.com

Billy Joe Owens Jr. (born December 2, 1965) is a former American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He also played in the Arena Football League (AFL) for the Orlando Predators, Charlotte Rage, Connecticut Coyotes and Portland Forest Dragons. He played college football at the University of Pittsburgh.

Contents

Early years

Owens attended Christian Brothers High School, where he played as a running back, wide receiver and safety. He received All-state honors as a senior. He also lettered in basketball, baseball and track. [1]

He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Pittsburgh, where he was switched between running back to safety as a freshman, but still managed to average 8.3 yards per carry (14 carries for 116 yards and one touchdown). In 1984, he was redshirted after being lost for the season with a knee injury.

As a sophomore, he became the starter at free safety toward the end of the season, although he was used as a backup running back in some games. [2] He was a part of a secondary that was called "The Burnt Toast Patrol", after giving up a school record 2,283 passing yards. [3]

As a junior, he was moved to strong safety and was fourth on the team with 106 tackles. He also tied with Quintin Jones for the club lead with 4 interceptions. He had a career-high 16 tackles against North Carolina State University.

As a senior, he tallied 88 tackles (fifth on the team), 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and one interception. He also averaged 22.4 yards as a part-time kick off returner. Against West Virginia University, he tallied 9 tackles, one sack and 2 forced fumbles, including the one that set up the winning field goal in Pittsburgh's 6-3 win. He made a season-high 10 tackles in the upset 30–22 win against the University of Notre Dame. He had a memorable play against Penn State University, when he returned an interception 69 yards to seal a 10-0 victory with 42 seconds remaining in the game. It was Pitt's first shutout over Penn State since 1955 (a 20-0 victory). [4] [5]

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Owens was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the tenth round (263rd overall) of the 1988 NFL Draft. [6] He made the team as a backup safety and played on passing downs as a linebacker. He posed 13 special teams tackles (fourth on the team), 7 defensive tackles, 2 passes defensed and one sack. He was waived on September 5, 1989.

Pittsburgh Steelers

On March 19, 1990, he was signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers. [7] He was released on September 3. [8]

Orlando Thunder (WLAF)

In 1991, he signed with the Orlando Thunder of the World League of American Football. He registered 49 tackles (second on the team), 11 special teams tackles (led the team), one interception, 4 forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He was released on March 10, 1992. [9]

Montreal Machine (WLAF)

On May 5, 1992, he was claimed off waivers by the Montreal Machine of the World League of American Football. [10]

Orlando Predators (AFL)

In 1993, he signed with the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. He was declared inactive for the first four weeks. In 1994, he registered 46 receptions, 16 touchdowns, 47 tackles and 4 interceptions, however he asked for guarantees if the Predators did well in the playoffs, and the team reacted by suspending him before the semifinals game against the Massachusetts Marauders (a 51-42 win).

Charlotte Rage (AFL)

On May 17, 1996, he was traded along with Reggie Robinson to the Connecticut Coyotes in exchange for Les Barley. [11] He played in 3 games.

Portland Forest Dragons (AFL)

In 1997, he signed with Portland Forest Dragons. He was released on March 21, 1998.

Personal life

Owens grew up 3 blocks from the Syracuse University campus and was a ball boy for the Syracuse basketball team from 1977 to 1980.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Dawkins</span> American football player (born 1973)

Brian Patrick Dawkins Sr., nicknamed "Weapon X", is an American former professional football player who was a safety for 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football for the Clemson Tigers and was selected by the Eagles in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft. In his last three seasons, he played for the Denver Broncos.

Brodney Depaul Pool is a former American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets. He played college football at Oklahoma.

Lance Robert Mitchell is a former American football player. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He played college football at Oklahoma.

Rickey Anderson Jackson is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints (1981–1993) and the San Francisco 49ers (1994–1995). He led the team's Dome Patrol linebacker corps while playing with the Saints. In 1997, Jackson was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame. Jackson won a Super Bowl ring with the 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX one year before retiring. On February 7, 2010, Jackson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Hope (American football)</span> American football player (born 1980)

Christopher Pierre Hope is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles. Hope was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft, and has also played for the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons. He helped the Steelers win Super Bowl XL against the Seattle Seahawks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Lynch (American football)</span> American football player and executive (born 1971)

John Terrence Lynch Jr. is an American professional football executive and former player who is the general manager of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played in the NFL as a strong safety for 15 seasons, primarily with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Lynch earned a Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renaldo Hill</span> American football player and coach (born 1978)

Renaldo Hill is an American football coach and former player who is the pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive backs coach for the Denver Broncos from 2019 to 2020, the Los Angeles Chargers from 2021 to 2022. Currently in 2023 serves as an assistant defensive coach for the Miami Dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Griffin (American football)</span> American football player (born 1985)

Michael Devin Griffin is an American former professional football player who was a safety for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns. He was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft.

Anthony B. Smith is a former American football safety who played for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for Syracuse, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Smith has also been a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, and Tennessee Titans. He is a two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Steelers in 2008 and the Packers in 2010. Smith retired from professional football in 2012.

Cleo Kevin "Boo" McLee Jr. was an American football linebacker. He played collegiately at West Virginia University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Wicks</span> American football player (born 1985)

Eric Wicks is a former American football safety. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at West Virginia.

Ernest Haskel Shazor is a former American college and professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for a single season. Shazor played college football for the University of Michigan, and was a consensus All-American. He played professionally for the NFL's Arizona Cardinals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Jones (American football)</span> American football player (born 1986)

Arthur Willis Jones III is a former American football defensive end who played eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Syracuse. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft and won Super Bowl XLVII with them. Jones has also played for the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins. He is also the older brother of UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, and Super Bowl winner, defensive end Chandler Jones of the Las Vegas Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Church</span> American football player (born 1988)

Barry Michael Church is a former American football strong safety. He played college football at the University of Toledo and signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2010. Church has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Berry</span> American gridiron football player (born 1988)

Aaron Douglas Berry, Jr. is a former American football cornerback. He played college football at Pittsburgh. He was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2010. Berry has also been a member of the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns of the NFL and the Toronto Argonauts and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerald Hodges</span> American football player (born 1991)

Gerald Davon Hodges Jr. is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Penn State. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round, 120th overall, of the 2013 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adrian Amos</span> American football player (born 1993)

Adrian Gerald Amos Jr. is an American football safety for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State, and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minkah Fitzpatrick</span> American football player (born 1996)

Minkah Annane Fitzpatrick Jr. is an American football free safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft before being traded to the Steelers during the 2019 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Whitehead</span> American football player (born 1997)

Jordan Tyler Whitehead is an American football safety for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Pittsburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troy Reeder</span> American football player (born 1994)

Troy Daniel Reeder is an American football linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State and Delaware.

References

  1. ↑ "Syracuse Home For Pitt's Owens" . Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Double Duty Pitt's Owens Ready To Play Both Ways Against Middies" . Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Pitt Secondary Now The Upper Crust" . Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Penn State Is Subdued By Pitt, 10-0" . Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Panthers Fitted For Bluebonnet" . Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  6. ↑ "1988 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  7. ↑ "Steelers Sign Billy Owens" . Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Monday's NFL Transactions" . Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Transactions" . Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Transactions" . Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Coyotes' Gaston Tackles His Critics" . Retrieved September 24, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.