Elijah Owens, a Jacksonville native who first made a name on the high school fields of Florida, has been working his way back onto the gridiron at Indiana State University after a pair of season‑ending injuries.
The 2024 campaign began with a broken left non‑throwing hand that forced Owens to miss only a single game, but the following year he suffered a collarbone fracture in the second week against Eastern Illinois, requiring surgery and ending his sophomore season prematurely.
A Season of Setbacks and Growth
Rather than seeing the setbacks as a barrier, Owens describes the rehab process as a catalyst for both physical resilience and mental clarity, noting that the downtime gave him a new perspective on the game.
During his recovery he was appointed one of six team captains for the 2024 season, a testament to the respect he earned from coaches and teammates alike.
From the sidelines he began studying opposing defenses, a habit that sharpened his understanding of offensive schemes and defensive alignments, insights he now brings to practice.
Captains and Collaborations
His long‑time acquaintance KeShon Singleton, a receiver who transferred from Air Force and previously earned preseason All‑Missouri Valley Conference honors, was also named captain alongside Owens, creating a leadership duo that blends experience with youthful vigor.
Singleton’s own journey — from Sacred Heart‑Griffin High School in Florida to the Air Force Academy in Colorado, then to Indiana State — has been marked by 25 catches for 328 yards and two touchdowns in 2024, achievements that have set expectations for his senior year.
Owens credits his father, Jae, a coach who introduced him to flag football as a child, for instilling a deep love of quarterback play that has persisted through every injury.
The roster also features other high‑profile transfers such as Cooper Starks, an offensive lineman from South Dakota State, and Blaze Helton, a defensive lineman from Illinois College, as well as returning standouts like Blake Buckles, a former Rochester offensive lineman who earned All‑Midwest Conference second‑team honors.
With the Ohio Valley Conference poised for competition, Indiana State enters the season as a favorite, buoyed by a blend of seasoned leadership, strategic insight, and a culture of resilience that Owens says will define their campaign.