Linebacker Owens has seen, played against top players

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, March 29, 2000 | 11:38 a.m.

When it comes to producing college football talent, few areas in the United States do it any better than western Pennsylvania.

Just ask new UNLV linebacker Lamar Owens.

The 6-3, 225-pounder from Erie, Pa., who is expected to start at outside linebacker for the Rebels next fall after a much-acclaimed junior college career at Fresno City College, went head-to-head against a couple of linebackers who will be hearing their names called early in next month's NFL draft.

"I remember my sophomore year we played against LaVar Arrington," Owens said of the Butkus Award winning linebacker from Penn State. "He also played some running back in that game. I got a few licks in on him. We talked a little trash. He was a very good player. And I also played against Brandon Short."

Owens, like Arrington and Short, who also went on to star at Penn State and is considered one of the top 10 linebackers in next month's NFL draft, was an all-state pick at Central High School in Erie. But unlike the two future Nittany Lion stars, he didn't move on to Division I football right away.

"Alabama recruited me," he said. "But my grades just weren't good enough. I was a poor student."

So after sitting out a year to contemplate his future, Owens went west to play junior college football in Fresno.

And despite offers from several colleges closer to home, including Marshall, he elected to sign with UNLV.

"I wanted to play for John Robinson," Owens said. "I know he's a good coach, a legend."

A coaching legend in desperate need for outside linebackers who can run.

Owens, who runs the 40 in 4.7 seconds, fits that bill.

"The chance to maybe play right away here also figured into it," Owens said after a recent UNLV spring practice.

"The coaches told me that there would be a good chance for me to come in and play right away if I came in and worked hard."

So far, so good.

"I think he's a frontline player," Robinson said. "He has to learn the specifics of the position, but he's 6-3 and 225 pounds and has very good balance, speed and athletic ability.

"One of the most fundamental things in playing defense is bending your knees. And he's one of the better ones at doing that that I've been around."

"I guess that comes naturally," Owens said when informed of Robinson's comments. "I never really noticed it before. Nobody had ever complimented me on that before."

Owens said he has been impressed by what he has seen so far at UNLV.

"We have a lot of talent, a lot of talent," he said. "I think we're capable of having a very good season this year."