Billy Owens (American football)

Billy Owens
No. 31
Position:	Safety
Personal information
Born:	December 2, 1965 (age 58); 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
	Dallas Cowboys (1988); Pittsburgh Steelers (1990)*; Orlando Thunder (1991); Montreal Machine (1992); Orlando Predators (1993–1994); Charlotte Rage (1995–1996); Connecticut Coyotes (1996); Portland Forest Dragons (1997);
	* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
	2× All-East Coast (1986, 1987);
Career NFL statistics
Games played:
Games played:	16
	Player stats at NFL.com · PFR · ArenaFan.com

Billy Joe Owens Jr. (born December 2, 1965) is a former

Portland Forest Dragons. He played college football at the University of Pittsburgh

.

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

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

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

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,

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

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.

References

^ "Syracuse Home For Pitt's Owens". Retrieved September 24, 2018.
^ "Double Duty Pitt's Owens Ready To Play Both Ways Against Middies". Retrieved September 24, 2018.
^ "Pitt Secondary Now The Upper Crust". Retrieved September 24, 2018.
^ "Penn State Is Subdued By Pitt, 10-0". Retrieved September 24, 2018.
^ "Panthers Fitted For Bluebonnet". Retrieved September 24, 2018.
^ "1988 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
^ "Steelers Sign Billy Owens". Retrieved September 24, 2018.
^ "Monday's NFL Transactions". Retrieved September 24, 2018.
^ "Transactions". Retrieved September 24, 2018.
^ "Transactions". Retrieved September 24, 2018.
^ "Coyotes' Gaston Tackles His Critics". Retrieved September 24, 2018.

External links

[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.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]