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#BlackUnicorn: El Campo's Owens among best in 2023 recruiting class
Sep 23, 2020
RUEBEN OWENS II DOES NOT FASHION HIS GAME AFTER JUST ONE ELITE BACK.
The No. 1 running back in Texas for the Class of 2023 per 24/7 Sports studies the work of a trio and then emulates parts of their games into his own.
When watching Owens tear through an offensive line, you may see flashes of Adrian Peterson's style and power and Barry Sanders' vision. But he will be quick to tell you, he isn't just a stick-the-ball-in-his-gut and a cloud-of-dust kind of back.
Another attribute he has picked up is versatility. Like that of Le'Veon Bell, the ability to move out to receiver and become a nightmare for a defensive back is another key part of his game.
Package that all together and you have the El Campo running back. As a freshman, he rushed for 689 yards in the regular season – as a part of a three-headed rushing attack with Johntre Davis and Charles Shorter III. He has soared up the national recruiting ranks to become a four-star prospect with 20 offers.
"It's a great accomplishment to be the No. 2 back in the nation but I'm coming for the No.1 spot," Owens said. "There's lot of great backs in my class. So, I will keep grinding and working on my craft until I'm the No. 1 overall player in the nation.
"That's the big goal."
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When Owens was just four years old, his father Rueben Owens Sr. placed a football and basketball in front of him. As the story goes, Owens crawled to the football.
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Two years later, Owens got the nickname that is emblazoned in his Twitter profile - #BlackUnicorn.
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"My father gave me that nickname, because he says I'm a rare breed, a different type of beast," Owens said. "He says I have been different since I was six years old when I scored my first touchdown.
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"He's been calling me the Black Unicorn since then."
</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I bet I shake the room, left him in that spot 🤮 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DifferentTypeOfMonster?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DifferentTypeOfMonster</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeWestHTX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MikeWestHTX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/mikeforman21?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mikeforman21</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/dctf?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dctf</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxPreps?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaxPreps</a> <a href="https://t.co/CZXvEcfx8a">pic.twitter.com/CZXvEcfx8a</a><br>
— Rueben Owens ll #BlackUnicorn (@ii_rueben) <a href="https://twitter.com/ii_rueben/status/1308067856312131585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2020</a>
</blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"> </script></div><p>
Owens would grow into the game with his father training him along the way. It was in Florida at the AYF National Championships when he started realizing the gift. <br>
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"I knew I had a special gift and plus I had the work ethic to become what my father was telling me," Owens said. "I still have a lot more work to do but my father got me off to a great start to become the best back I want to be."
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Fast forward to 2019 at El Campo High School.
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Just like his father, who played mainly basketball for the Ricebirds (averaging 28 pts, five rebounds and five assists his senior year) and was a 2002 graduate, Owens stepped on to campus to don the Ricebirds red.
</p><p><br></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/33Dr31N0YHc" width="560"></iframe></div><p><br></p><p>
Owens slid right into the running back rotation for the Ricebirds, which can be daunting for a freshman being thrust into varsity play.
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"I learned a lot as a freshman playing on the varsity level. It's a faster game and you have to be more focused," Owens said. "You can't make too many mistakes because coaches and players will be looking for a weakness and take advantage of them. But year two will be something to see, I promise you that."
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Owens loves playing football. It is more than a hobby, it's a passion. He is fueled by the sport.
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"Did you ever love doing something so bad that it consumed you?" he said. "That's what football does to me. It is my passion, my life, my escape. When I play, I forget everything that is going on in the world or my life."
</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Losing is only temporary and not all encompassing. You must simply study it, learn from it, and try hard not to lose the same way again. Then you must have the self-control to forget about it. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Time2BounceBack?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Time2BounceBack</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeRoach247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MikeRoach247</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Perroni247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Perroni247</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SWiltfong247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SWiltfong247</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/samspiegs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@samspiegs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Jason_Howell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Jason_Howell</a> <a href="https://t.co/C5dzqwffud">pic.twitter.com/C5dzqwffud</a><br>
— Rueben Owens ll #BlackUnicorn (@ii_rueben) <a href="https://twitter.com/ii_rueben/status/1304806496648208385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2020</a>
</blockquote><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"> </script></div>
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RECRUITING: FBCA's Strickland receives offer from Michigan
Sep 23, 2020
Calling recruits has become the main way that college coaches are "hitting the recruiting trail" this fall as the NCAA has extended its dead period throughout 2020. So, when the phone rings, it brings an extra level of excitement.
It was a moment that was surreal when Remington Strickland's phone rang. On the other end was Michigan.
<p>"Michigan being one of the best and biggest programs in the country was awesome to be offered by," Strickland said. </p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">ALL GLORY TO GOD!! Beyond blessed and excited to receive a huge offer from THE University of Michigan!! 🔵🟡 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoBlue?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoBlue</a> <a href="https://t.co/w5QIKJjFOg">pic.twitter.com/w5QIKJjFOg</a><br>— Remington Strickland (@RemStrick2021) <a href="https://twitter.com/RemStrick2021/status/1307387007988101126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p>The<a data-linked-post="2640046630" href="https://www.vype.com/fort-bend-eagles-go-big-with-new-hire" target="_blank">Fort Bend Christian Academy</a> three-star offensive lineman prospect has 27 offers now as he is set to begin his senior campaign on Friday. And he knows what he does on the field this fall could impact him more than just putting together a good stat line. <br></p><p>"Schools will be relying a lot more on film now that recruits are still not allowed to visit campuses," Strickland said. "So it's crucial I put my best efforts out every week." </p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Scrimmage highlights vs Westbury Christian High School!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeBack?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeBack</a> <a href="https://t.co/yTRla7eSdH">pic.twitter.com/yTRla7eSdH</a><br>— Remington Strickland (@RemStrick2021) <a href="https://twitter.com/RemStrick2021/status/1307338457623269377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p>Back on July 25, Strickland released his Top 8 schools, which included SMU, University of Houston and Arkansas. </p><p>As Strickland goes through this fall, the recruiting process will be different for the senior than any previous signing class in probably the history of college football. It will be different, which makes his decision process different. </p><p><ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-9787720712654893" data-ad-slot="8738871937" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>
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</script></p><p>"A lot of virtual tours and phone calls keep me in contact with all the coaches," Strickland said. "In person visits would be much better in my opinion but you have to work with what your given. </p><p>'I would like to commit before December but I may take my time and hopefully use my visits in January." <br></p><p><a data-linked-post="2640634216" href="https://www.vype.com/offered-as-a-freshman-fbcas-strickland-is-becoming-national-recruit" target="_blank">Strickland</a> has put Fort Bend Christian Academy on the map when it comes to the recruiting ranks, especially now getting a Big 10 Conference blue-blood on his radar. </p>
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