BREAKING: Oklahoma lands another brilliant superstar
Just when it seemed Oklahoma had wrapped up its 2024 recruiting class, another talented preferred walk-on commit has joined. On Wednesday, Devon Owen announced on social media his commitment to the Sooners.
Owen, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound defensive back from Argyle, Texas, has taken an unconventional route to get to this point. This journey has prepared him to embrace new changes when necessary.
“My senior year, I committed to Navy,” Owen explained. “But I decommitted due to some things happening there. Afterward, I visited Emporia State in Kansas, and they really took me under their wing.”
“I was excited about going there,” Owen continued. “But then Oklahoma offered me on Friday.”
This offer was unexpected. Owen was preparing to head north, but not across the Red River.
“I honestly spent the whole weekend praying about it,” Owen shared. “After some time, I decided to take my career there. I knew that’s what I wanted.”
Owen has always been an Oklahoma fan, a sentiment deeply rooted in his family history.
“My great grandfather went to OU,” Owen said. “My dad grew up in Oklahoma. He loved Oklahoma, still does, and he really instilled that in us growing up.”
“When I started talking to Oklahoma, my dad was a little star-struck,” Owen added. “There are pictures of me at four or five years old attending Oklahoma games with my family. We went to Meet the Sooners every year; I met Sam Bradford, Landry Jones, DeMarco Murray. I’ve been an Oklahoma fan all my life, so this was a dream come true.”
This dream wouldn’t have been possible without an opportunity from Oklahoma safeties coach Brandon Hall, who made it clear that Owen was the right fit.
“Coach Hall and I are really close,” Owen said. “When I went to an OU camp recently, I worked out at linebacker, unsure of what they wanted. He called me on Friday and asked if I was still close with the Hardys and Bowens. I said yes, and he told me they had a spot for me. I was the first guy he thought of.”
“Right after the call, I got on my knees and started praying, maybe shed a tear. It was surreal. I knew this was a big decision.”
Choosing the preferred walk-on path at a program like Oklahoma, which emphasizes this route heavily, is appealing but demands a lot from the player.
“My parents are very business-minded, so we talked to the admissions counselor and Chuck Lillie at OU,” Owen said. “We figured out the process, and my mom convinced me to take this risk, betting on myself. My dad emphasized having a plan for how to make the most of it.”
Owen has made the most of every step in his career so far.
“I know the type of person and player I am,” Owen said. “I’ll play with a chip on my shoulder. I’m not a three or four-star recruit, and I don’t have many Power Four offers. I know I have to prove myself to everyone in that building. But I can’t wait to show who I am on and off the field. I’ve always enjoyed that challenge.”