Texas A&M’s offense suffered a major blow to its depth on Saturday.
According to a report from ESPN, running back Rueben Owens is expected to miss the 2024 college football season after suffering a significant lower-body injury during an Aggies’ scrimmage on Saturday. Owens, who is listed at 6 feet, 205 pounds, was expected to play a significant role in the offense in the first year under Mike Elko.
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As a true freshman, the running back from El Campo, Texas, produced 743 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. He rushed 101 times for 385 yards and added 12 catches for 109 yards, as well as returning kickoffs. He earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors.
The Aggies do return last season’s leading rusher in junior Amari Daniels, who amassed 532 yards and six touchdowns. Stanford transfer EJ Smith― the son of former NFL star Emmitt Smith ― and Le’Veon Moss are the other two scholarship running backs on the roster. Smith rushed for 557 yards and five touchdowns in 24 career games with Stanford. Moss had 484 rushing yards and five touchdowns last season with A&M.
The Aggies open the 2024 season against Notre Dame at Kyle Field in College Station on Aug. 31.
Rueben Owens injury update
Elko released a statement Sunday evening acknowledging Owens’ injury and said he would provide an update at his next availability on Saturday, per 247 Texas A&M’s Carter Karels.
Rueben Owens recruiting
Owens was a 5-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class out of El Campo High in El Campo. He was ranked as the the No. 28 overall player by 247Sports composite rankings, the No. 5 player in the state and the No. 3 running back in the class. He committed to the Aggies in December 2022 after de-committing from Louisville. He also held offers from Alabama, Notre Dame and Ohio State among others.
