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On Monday afternoon, Georgia Tech landed an important prospect at perhaps the biggest position of need for 2017. After losing Pat Gamble and Francis Kallon to graduation, the DT position has become thin on the Jackets’ roster. Owens will be essential in patching up the rotation.
Owens is a 3-star recruit per Rivals (5.6) and 247Sports Composite (0.8192) rankings. While some teams view him as a strong-side defensive end (where he played primarily in high school), he will play defensive tackle for Georgia Tech. The former UCF commit measures an impressive 6’4”, 286 lbs, and looks to have room to add more weight to his frame.
Owens chose Tech over a bevy of Power-5 offers, including: Indiana, Iowa State, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi State, NC State, Purdue, Syracuse, and Wake Forest.
Owens only posted a half season of his senior year to his hudl page, and his Junior film contains a couple more plays of him at DT, so it’s worth watching as well:
The first thing that jumps out of the video is how fluid and quick Owens is for his size. He bends well, and can tackle smaller and quicker players in space with relative ease. As an edge defender in high school, these abilities served him tremendously. Owens also understands how to use his length to control blockers in both the pass game and the run game. He puts his hands in to the chest of the blocker and extends his long arms, then tosses the blocker to the side when the ball carrier is close.
Against the pass, he tends to prefer an interior pass rush move or a bull rush, which translates well to DT, specifically 3-Technique. His first step is good and will play well at that position, though it is not an elite trait.
Owens will need to work on consistent pad level and tackling. He’ll also have to adapt to the move inside, where he’ll be asked to hold the point of attack against larger linemen. His ability to use his hands to win against blockers suggests he’ll have a successful transition, but it will take some time.
Owens’ commitment brings Georgia Tech’s recruiting class back to 19, after the decommitment of kicker Joseph Bulovas earlier in the day. The class now stands as follows:
Georgia Tech’s 2017 Recruiting Class
| Pos | Name | Ht | Wt | Hometown | Rivals | 247Sports Comp | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Name | Ht | Wt | Hometown | Rivals | 247Sports Comp | Status |
| DB | Gentry Bonds | 6-1 | 190 | Murfreesboro, TN | 4-star (5.8) | 3-star (0.8545) | Enrolled (1/9/2017) |
| DB | Jaytlin Askew | 5-9 | 170 | Powder Springs, GA | 3-star (5.7) | 3-star (0.8646) | Enrolled (1/9/2017) |
| P | Pressley Harvin III | 6-0 | 230 | Sumter, SC | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8145) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| OL | Connor Hansen | 6-2 | 320 | Tallahassee, FL | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8238) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| LB | TD Roof | 5-11 | 202 | Buford, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8346) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| DB | Dameon Williams | 5-10 | 170 | Norcross, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8472) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| OL | Zach Quinney | 6-6 | 260 | Savannah, GA | 3-star (5.6) | 3-star (0.8396) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| OL | Michael Minihan | 6-3 | 285 | Honolulu, HI | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8403) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| DB | Tre' Swilling | 6-0 | 180 | New Orleans, LA | 4-star (5.8) | 3-star (0.8752) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| LB | Bruce Jordan-Swilling | 6-0 | 215 | New Orleans, LA | 4-star (5.8) | 4-star (0.9150) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| RB | Jerry Howard, Jr. | 6-0 | 210 | Rock Hill, SC | 3-star (5.6) | 3-star (0.8147) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| QB | Tobias Oliver | 6-2 | 180 | Warner Robins, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8312) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| DL | Cortez Alston | 6-3 | 250 | Atlanta, GA | 3-star (5.6) | 3-star (0.8534) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| OL | Charlie Clark | 6-4 | 270 | Atlanta, GA | 2-star (5.3) | 3-star (0.8072) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| RB | Jordan Ponchez-Mason | 6-1 | 205 | Gallatin, TN | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8158) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| DE | Kelton Dawson | 6-2 | 240 | Stockbridge, GA | 3-star (5.5) | 3-star (0.8359) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| DB | Avery Showell | 6-2 | 200 | Cartersville, GA | 3-star (5.6) | 3-star (0.8320) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| LB | Jaquan Henderson | 6-1 | 210 | Covington, GA | 3-star (5.7) | 3-star (0.8813) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| DL | Antwan Owens | 6-4 | 286 | Tallahassee, FL | 3-star (5.6) | 3-star (0.8192) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| K | Brenton King | 6-0 | 165 | Hoschton, GA | 2-star (5.4) | NR | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| DB | Tariq Carpenter | 6-2 | 191 | Ludowici, GA | 2-star (5.4) | 3-star (0.8182) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| DT | Boe Tufele | 6-3 | 290 | Harbor City, CA | 2-star (5.3) | 3-star (0.8207) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| DB | Kaleb Oliver | 6-3 | 200 | Murfreesboro, TN | 4-star (5.8) | 3-star (0.8670) | Signed (2/1/2017) |
| WR | Adonicas Sanders | 6-1 | 190 | North Charleston, SC | 2-star (5.2) | NR | Signed (2/1/2017) |
Let’s welcome Antwan to the Flats!