HALL OF FAME FEATURE: Terrance Owens II '14/16M

In a person’s life, there are many firsts that are important milestones. A first job, a first love, and in Terrance Owen II’s case, a first collegiate touchdown. Owens recalled his first ever collegiate score like it was yesterday. The play was designed to bait the defense. One of the receivers ran a bubble route, and Owens acted like he was going out for a block. Instead, he ran a slant and caught a pass for a career-high 88 yards for his first-ever collegiate touchdown.

“I felt excited and very grateful that my hard work was paying off,” Owens said. “It definitely gave me a confidence boost because it was a realization that I can compete at the highest level.”

Owens came from humble beginnings hailing from Brooksville, Florida. His first experience with Averett is when the Cougars’ coaching staff came to his area for a recruitment event. 

“I honestly wouldn't have probably honestly wouldn't have come to Averett if it wasn't for coach Patrick Henry,” he said. 

As a freshman, Owens was given No. 99, an unusual number for a wide receiver. He was assigned to Averett’s junior varsity squad. Owens knew he had the talent to be something more. From that point on, he used that as fuel to progress and become one of the most talented receivers in program’s history. During his first year, he worked on his skills and put some weight on. He went from being listed as 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds as a freshman to weighing in at 185 his sophomore season. He had his first career start when the Cougars played against Washington and Lee University that season in 2014.

“It was so much excitement around this,” he said. “Because we knew the talent that we had, and to see it come to fruition was amazing.”

It had been a long time coming, earning his first career start as a sophomore after grinding on the JV squad and in camp leading up to that season. Owens no longer wore No. 99; instead, he was rocking No. 4. Owens continued to push and seized the opportunity that he had been granted. He would go on to start in all 10 games that year and make 37 receptions for 565 yards and five touchdowns.

Although he had a respectable sophomore season, Averett hadn’t seen anything yet. His breakout season was his junior year. Owens began to set himself apart as a receiver and showcase his ability to compete at a high level. He was an integral part of Averett’s offense, making 33 receptions for 727 yards and seven touchdowns. 

His senior season was his most impressive. Owens dominated and became a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses. He wrapped up his final season with a whopping 59 receptions for 926 yards and seven touchdowns. The 926 receiving yards ranks second all-time for a single-season in program history, and his 59 catches ranked third in receptions for a single season. Owens also was named USA South All-Conference First Team as a wide receiver, Roanoke All-State First Team, and VaSID All-State First Team honors.

Over the course of his career, Owens racked up 129 receptions for 2,218 yards and 17 touchdowns. He is second all-time in touchdown receptions and receiving yards in program history. 

Owens is thankful for his time at Averett. The connections he made with his teammates and people around the Averett community are priceless and remain as vivid memories. He still maintains many of those relationships today.

“A lot of my favorite memories revolve around the brotherhood that I was able to build,” Owens said. “The majority of the guys that I came in with is who I built that brotherhood with. To this day, we talk every day … It is something that is life-changing. Just having guys that you were able to meet with in college and build that brotherhood with, being your best friends to this day.”

During his time at Averett, Owens got the opportunity to work with Cassie Johnson, wife of then-offensive coordinator Shannon Johnson. She set Owens up to start working with the youth in the Danville community. Owens recalled mentoring a kid who was nonverbal. The child did not talk to many people and he recalled how remarkable it was to connect with him.

“I remember after the first day he ran back in the house or whatever to his mom and was just like, ‘Oh, he’s awesome,’” Owens recalled. “And then like him being able to open up to me, you know, me being able to talk to him and be able to see what his goals and things are, being able to get him out in the community. I remember bringing him to football practice before and just everyone being supportive of me mentoring as well.”

Owens used his connections at Averett to land a position at Ally Financial, a leading digital financial services company. Assistant coach Patrick Bolen reached out to former Averettt offensive lineman Phil Blaising, who was working at Ally Financial at the time. Owens is currently a senior analyst in business line risk at Ally in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he lives with his wife Ana and their three children Teito, Taylan, and Anneska.

Owens will be among the eight former Averett student-athletes inducted into the Averett Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 2022 class during Homecoming on Oct. 8.

“I definitely felt honored,” Owens said. “Because you know, it's a select few people getting inducted. So, for me, I definitely felt honored being able to get the opportunity.”