Texas A&M HC Mike Elko offers injury update on running back Le’Veon Moss and can’t help but hype up Rueben Owens
Rueben Owens’ break out game yet another reason to have immense confidence in Aggies moving forward
The Texas A&M Aggies are proving they’re a legitimate College Football Playoff contender following yet another SEC win over Mississippi State, bringing their record to 4-0. It doesn’t matter who shows up as the breakout player of the week; Mike Elko’s entire team just finds a way to step up individually and as a unit right when they need it most.
For much of the season, it’s been quarterback Marcel Reed and his star wide receiver duo of Mario Craver and KC Concepcion stepping up. Other games, it’s been defensive end Cashius Howell (who again logged three sacks against Mississippi State) or running back Le’Veon Moss. Saturday, it was finally the Rueben Owens show at running back, something Aggies fans have been waiting to see for a long time, as he racked up 161 yards from scrimmage against Mississippi State.
Key Stats for Rueben Owens in huge game for Texas A&M
- Rueben Owens logged four explosive plays for Texas A&M of over 15 yards. One reception for 19 yards. Then carries of 17, 17, and 37 yards.
- Owens logged just two “stuffed” plays, where he gained zero or negative yardage on his 22 touches
- Owens logged nearly three yards after contact per carry throughout the Mississippi State game
Le’Veon Moss injured, but Rueben Owens posted huge breakout game
Moss has unsurprisingly been the go-to running back for the Aggies this season. He’s posted 336 rushing yards and five scores now through five games for Texas A&M this season, and should still likely be the lead back moving forward. However, after he left the Mississippi State game for a bit, Rueben Owens took advantage, posting the best game of his entire career for Texas A&M.
Owens, the former five-star running back recruit who has struggled with injury luck throughout his time at Texas A&M prior to this season, finally put up the breakout game everyone knew he was capable of. It came at a slight cost, since his backfield mate Moss got dinged up, but Elko made it sound like he should be okay:
“Yeah, [Le’Veon Moss] got dinged up a little bit,” Elko said. “He was battling through some things. He should be fine coming out of it, but we wanted to make sure he was okay. Then Rueben [Owens] was playing so well that it kind of made it an easy decision to just stick with him, ride him tonight.”
Any time a lead running back gets hurt on an offense that loves to win with its ground game, things can go off the rails rather quickly, but that didn’t happen with A&M. Yes, the offense as a whole started slow, but once Owens found his groove, it was over.
Owens was just a big-play machine down the stretch in the Mississippi State win. Four huge plays of 17 yards or more made it impossible for the Bulldogs to mount any real attempt at a comeback. Elko couldn’t help but hype up Owens after the game:
“I thought he had his best two weeks of practice the last two weeks,” Elko said. “He’s starting to understand not just being a talented back in open space, but how to hit lines and angles to get into open space a little bit more consistently. I think you’re starting to see him become a more complete back. He’s got unbelievable open field ability. He’s now learning how to become a back between the tackles, which will obviously allow him in this conference to get to the open field more often. It’s been really good to see.”
Once Moss gets back to 100% healthy, the Aggies’ backfield will still primarily be his, but if Owens displays more of the hot hand again, then fans should likely expect Elko to run with the immensely talented former five-star. The talent and athleticism have always been there. Owens is just finally healthy and is putting together exactly the kind of season now that A&M needs if they want to stay fresh enough to make a deep run into the College Football Playoff.
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