DE Daniel Owens Breaks Down Top Four

TOWSON, MD—Calvert Hall fell to Good Counsel in Friday night’s scrimmage, but three-star defensive end Daniel Owens was able to flash off the edge through the first half and found himself always around the ball thanks to his relentless pursuit. It's the final tuneup for the 6-foot-2, 245-pound defensive end as he prepares for the season opener next week, but what he flashed is exactly why Owens remains a priority target for a handful of East Coast schools.

Owens announced the next step in his recruitment back on August 9 when he announced a top four of Maryland, Penn State, Rutgers, and Syracuse. “I picked the four schools where I felt I could get the best academic opportunity because you never know when football is going to be over. That could’ve been my last game right there,” as Owens pointed to the scoreboard following the game. “You never know. I felt that all the coaching staffs on those four schools, I established a connection with and I can develop as a player and they feel the same way as me.”

Owens took visits to Rutgers and Syracuse back in June and camped at Maryland and Penn State on July 30, followed by a return visit to College Park on July 31 for the recruit BBQ. He breaks down those four schools with Inside the Black & Gold.

Maryland: “It’s always good to be close to home. Definitely feels like a family out there, make it feel like I’m wanted, I’m important. Great guys over there, great guys.”

Syracuse: “Same thing, humble guys over there, great personalities. Coach [Tony] White, one of the funniest guys I’ve met. We talk and joking back and forth, not even just about football but about life. It’s great.”

Penn State: “It was so many people [on July 30], so fun. Great competition, had a great talk with coach [Anthony] Poindexter.”

Rutgers: “We’ve had constant communication. We had a great chance to develop our relationship, really get to know each other and I feel like they know me and I know them. It’s just a great feeling.”

Owens also added he is confirmed to unofficially visit for Maryland’s home opener against West Virginia but does not have any visits set beyond that. While Owens added he would “definitely would like to be committed by the end of the season,” academics will play a critical role in his decision as an aspiring engineer. Learning just how feasible it is to play football as an engineer will be what he looks to learn more about next.

“I know somewhat the process of an engineer on the football team but I’d like to, if it makes sense, spend a day with someone who is actually an engineer on the football team so I can see like what I would be doing, what’s a typical day.

Owens is rated a three-star prospect and an 85 overall by 247Sports, sitting as the 23rd-best player in Maryland.