Rodney Owens

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Position:
Defensive Back
Height:
6-1
Weight:
205
Class:
Fifth Year
Hometown:
Nashville, Tenn.
High School:
Ensworth HS
Prev School:
Iowa Western CC

Honors

• 2021 Fourth-Team All-AAC (Phil Steele)
• Tiger 3.0 List (2019, 2021)
• 2019 AAC All-Academic Team
• Dean’s List for the 2019 fall semester

2022 (Fifth Year)

• Appeared in 11 games on the season, earning one start
• Totaled six tackles on the year
• Had two tackles each against Mississippi State and No. 25/25 Tulane
• Third-Team Preseason All-AAC (Phil Steele)

2021 (Redshirt Senior)

• AAC Defensive Player of the Week (SMU)
• One of just six Tigers to start all 12 games on the season
• Totaled 78 tackles, 50 solo, with 4.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, a team-high two interceptions, one quarterback hurry and five pass breakups
• Had six stops, one tackle for loss, one sack and one interception in win over No. 23/24 SMU
• Posted a season-high 13 tackles with 0.5 tackles for loss against UTSA
• Recorded 11 stops, eight solo, and a quarterback hurry against East Carolina

2020 (Redshirt Junior)

• Member of the 8-3 Tigers who won the 2020 Montgomery Bowl
• Appeared in all 11 games on the season, earning 10 starts
• Totaled 53 tackles, 37 solo, to go with 2.5 TFL, one forced fumble, three interceptions, three quarterback hurries and six pass breakups
• Had a season-high 12 tackles with one TFL and one forced fumble in win over UCF
• Posted a pair of interceptions in victory against Temple
• Made a season-high two pass breakups in win over Stephen F. Austin

2019 (Redshirt Sophomore)

• Played in 12 games, primarily on special teams
• Made Memphis debut against Southern
• Tallied three total tackles
• Picked up first multi-tackle game at USF
• Was also credited with a sack at USF

2018 (at Iowa Western CC)

• Transferred to Iowa Western Community College from Louisville
• Played the 2018 campaign as a redshirt freshman for the Reivers
• Helped Iowa Western to a 10-1 record and a Graphic Edge Bowl championships
• The 2018 season was the 10th for the Iowa Western football program
• Starred in the defensive backfield for the Reivers
• Logged 42 total tackles (22 solo), four PBU, two interceptions and one TFL
• Member of the Iowa Western defense that held opponents to under 15 points per game

2017 (at Louisville)

• Signed with Louisville out of high school
• Member of the 2017 Cardinals team that went 8-5 overall and 4-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference
• Squad earned a postseason berth to the Taxslayer Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida
• Did not see any game action.

Prior to Memphis/Personal

• Played four seasons for head coach Richard Bowers at Ensworth High School
• Helped the Tigers to three winning seasons and three Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) Division II-AA state playoff appearances
• Ensworth won the state title in 2013 and finished as state runner-up in 2014
• 2016 squad advanced to the TSSAA Division II-AA state semifinal round
• Saw action on both sides of the ball at WR and DB
• Tabbed as the No. 7 safety in Tennessee
• Listed as the state’s 32nd-ranked prospect and the No. 87 player at safety according to 247Sports
• As a senior, caught 53 passes for 795 yards and seven TDs
• On defense, recorded 49 tackles (46 solo), one interception and eight PBU
• 2018 honors included: Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) All-State first team (WR), All-Region II-AA, All-American Bowl selection and The Tennessean Dandy Dozen pick (No. 12)
• As a junior, led the team in receiving with 20 catches for 330 yards and three TDs
• Also recorded 52 tackles, nine PBU and three interceptions
• Returned one pick 57 yards for a score
• 2017 honors included: TSWA All-State first team (DB) and All-Region II-AA
• Member of the Tigers’ 2013-14 state title-winning basketball team
• Son of Rodney and Tiffany Owens