Slippery Rock redshirt freshman DaOne Owens had his eyes set on football since he was five years old.
The reason behind it was his father, but football was not always at the forefront of his mind.
“He wanted me to play sports, and he was a big basketball guy. But I didn’t like basketball,” Owens said. “So, we tried out football, and that’s when I kind of fell in love with it.”
Moving into high school, Owens threw another sport into the mix: wrestling.
Balancing wrestling and football while maintaining honor roll status, he chalks up his success to showing up and doing the work.
After sophomore year, wrestling took a backseat to football.
During his time at Massillon Washington High School, Owens led the team to its first state title since 1980. He tallied 105 completed passes for 1,566 yards. The quarterback left his mark on the team by putting up a record of most rushing yards in a season with 1,302.
“Just being able to stamp my name in that rich tradition of Massillon football, it just means a lot,” Owens said.
He finished his senior year earning first-team all-state, all-district and all-conference honors, as well as being named Division II player of the year.
Post high school, it was time for Owens to decide where he wanted to continue his athletic and academic career.
After multiple conversations with coaches and even receiving an offer from Temple University, something just did not feel right.
“A lot of schools, they wanted me at defensive back and running back,” he said.
Owens knew his skills could be better suited elsewhere.
Slippery Rock’s football head coach Shawn Lutz reached out, offering everything Owens was looking for.
“They were the best school that wanted me at quarterback.”
In Feb. 2024, Owens officially committed to The Rock.
“I’m glad they trust me, and they trust me now to go out there and play quarterback,” he said.
The athletic aspect was not the only reason Owens picked Slippery Rock. Besides the love of a quiet town, something else played a big factor.
“The academics are good [at Slippery Rock],” Owens said. “They care about their students.”
After not appearing in a game in 2024, the redshirt freshman came into the 2025 season ready to prove himself.
His skills were put to the test early. The first home game of the season was on Sept. 13 against Shepherd University. The Rock was down by a touchdown going into the fourth quarter, and Coach Lutz put Owens in.
“I was so nervous. I was on the verge of throwing up,” he said.
You would not know it from his play; Owens showed up. To tie the game, he scored his first collegiate career touchdown on a quarterback keeper from 16 yards with 36 seconds left.
The White and Green walked away with an overtime victory, 35-28.
Owens was already thrilled by the victory, but achieving it on his birthday made it one of his most memorable experiences.
But being a freshman and having all the expectations of the positions he plays can be a lot for anyone, and Owens does not take it lightly. Luckily, he has people he can fall back on.
One of these people is senior Joe Cooper, who gave some advice that Owens lives by.
Cooper said, “Just got out there and just be you. Don’t be anybody else, don’t try to be anybody else.”
He sees and learns from the team to better himself as an athlete and teammate.
It is not without its challenges, though. Owens would even say it’s his biggest challenge.
“How can I be that leader, I’m 19 years old,” he said. “Just having those guys believe in me, I don’t want to let the seniors down.”
Trust is a big part.
“They can see how I play, so they can trust me and they can take my word for it,” he said.
Part of building that trust is spending time off the field. Going for dinner and even watching game film, Owens said, is a way to build that connection with his teammates.
While having team support is important, his biggest role model resides in his uncle.
“Ever since middle school, my uncle’s been there for me,” Owens said.
Having been his football and wrestling coach in high school, his uncle was always a big part of his life.
As Owens’ first season winds down, he is looking to the future.
“I want to win a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship; that’s a big goal. Also, a national championship.”
With those goals in mind, Owens is hoping for freshman of the year. He is also taking time to live in the moment.
“I got three years, so I have some time and I’ll be able to develop more as a player.”
