By Ryne Turke
Photos/Kyleigh Hite and Amy McCombs
Former Jacksonville High School Football quarterback is primed for breakout season with Indiana State University. Elijah Owens drops in to chat what he loves most … football!
Q: Elijah! Thanks for taking the time to chat with me. You’ve had quite the prolific career and from the sound of it, big things are still in store. Take us back to your early days. What are your first memories of football and why has it become a passion for you?
A: My first memory of football is when I was about four years old. I was playing catch with a toy football with my dad. Football is such a passion for me because of the lessons and skills that I gain from it aside from just the football aspect; skills like persistence and determination translate to the real world and football has shaped the person that I am.
Q: Anytime I broadcasted an Elijah Owens game, I knew I was in store for something special. Who were you biggest motivators and coaches that help you reach your peak potential at JHS?
A: My biggest motivators were my parents, my coaches and myself. My parents always supported me and motivated me regardless of how I performed, so that took the pressure to be perfect off of my shoulders. Coach [Mark] Grounds and my QB coach, Coach Sullivan, believed in me from day one. They always pushed me to be the best version of myself, on the field as well as off the field. I feel like these people in addition to self motivation helped me reach my peak potential at JHS.
Q: You got the opportunity to play with some tremendous athletes at JHS. Who are some players that stood out in your time with the Crimsons?
A: Collin Brunstein, Jordan Cave, Ryan Maul, Drew Ezard, Chris Pulley, Michael Walker, Deone Salther, Tyler Wright, Camron Mitchell, Rodney Reed to name a few.
Q: You seemed to add a new weapon to your game each season, whether it was with your arm, legs or decision making. How dedicated were you year round to training on and off the field for the high school football season?
A: I was very dedicated to becoming the best player I could possibly be in high school, so every night I would evaluate what I did that day to separate myself from my competition. Most days I felt like I did things to take me one step closer to my goals. If I felt like I didn’t do enough, I would go even harder the next day.
Q: You put together one of the best high school careers in Jacksonville Crimson football history. A two-time IHSA 1st Team All State QB selection with 65 touchdowns and nearly 5,500 yards. What were your favorite moments as a Crimson?
A: One of my favorite moments was warming up with my dad before every single game and I will never forget those times. As far as actual games, the MacArthur game my junior year when we won 23-20 is a great memory. Another one of my favorites was senior night when we scored 70 points against U-high.
Q: When did you know college football was a real possibility for you and take me through the process of making the decision to play for Indiana State.
A: Ever since I picked up a football, my parents told me I could be as good as I wanted to be and could go to the NFL. So I always believed I could play college football, but it really hit me the summer going into junior year, when D1 coaches started following me on social media and I started to get noticed more. I’m a believer that gut feelings aren’t coincidental, so when Indiana State offered me and I got a feeling that it was right I couldn’t ignore it. I prayed about it for a while and talked to my parents, and through these things it just strengthened my feeling that ISU was the right choice for me.
Q: Take us through your first year with Indiana State. What was the experience like getting thrown into a new place, new system and playing with new faces?
A: Obviously at first it is all new, so I was nervous, but after I got settled in I began to gain confidence and get more comfortable. Being around a bunch of players who are just as good or better than me made me work even harder so that I could have a chance to be put on the field.
Q: You got some opportunities to play your freshman year, passing for 310 yards and a pair of touchdowns. What was it like running the show at the college level?
A: As you go higher in levels, it becomes less about the game and more and more about the preparation. In high school, I feel like there are teams that can just flat out be better and beat somebody — but in college, if you do not properly prepare you will be exposed. The preparation for games would probably seem unbelievable to people who aren’t football fans, but I took my studying and learning seriously so when I got in the game I was confident. I’m still learning to manage the game and to not always try to make some crazy plays that worked in high school.
Q: Did playing in the Central State 8 against powerhouse programs like Rochester, Sacred Heart-Griffin and Chatham Glenwood help prepare you for the competition you’d see at the college level?
A: I would say it more so prepared my mentality, because you can never go into a game expecting to lose. In high school I trained my mind to always expect to win against these good teams. So now playing teams that are good I don’t have any doubts or lack of confidence going into a game.
Q: What’s an offseason look like for a college quarterback?
A; It’s really finding the balance between recovering your body from the season and preparing for the upcoming season. Definitely getting a physical win and a mental win every day. A physical win could be getting a great workout in and a mental win could mean watching film or studying plays. You have to do these things every day from the day the season ends to the first game of the next season.
Q: Sounds like you’ll be under center full time for Indiana State this season. What should fans expect from Elijah Owens and the Sycamores this season?
A: Fans should expect exciting football and a passionate team with a chip on our shoulder that will play every single game with all we’ve got. From me, they should just expect someone who loves the game and will do anything to win.
Q: What message would you send to young athletes in Central Illinois hoping to follow in your footsteps?
A: You will have to sacrifice things you love to get to where you want to be. This is an unfortunate part of chasing your dreams, but it is what it is. Take care of academics so they’re never an issue. You can never learn too much so take every opportunity to learn seriously!
