As a rare four-year varsity player, Carmel’s Kai Owens has been exposed to just about everything there is to experience in a career.
Once a freshman wide receiver striving to make a good impression, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound senior has become a program bedrock who not only makes big plays on both sides of the ball but also prepares younger teammates for similar journeys.
“Being a veteran comes with challenges but also comes with a lot of good things as well,” Owens said. “People look up to you, but you have to hold yourself to a certain standard because you want the young guys to follow in the same steps that you followed in.
“The older guys for me set a good foundation for me to follow, and I just want to keep that foundation and pass it on to the younger generation.”
Owens can do that by leading by example. On Friday, the UMass commit made two touchdown catches during Carmel’s 70-7 road win over Marian Catholic in a CCL/ESCC crossover game in Chicago Heights.
Owens has a silky smooth stride when he’s in the open field, trying to shake a defender or running away from them after catching a pass from junior quarterback Trae Taylor. Owens’ first score was a 3-yarder as Taylor stayed on his feet long enough in the face of short-field pressure to see Owens break free in the end zone. Owens’ second score, a 29-yarder, had the look of a play that he and Taylor can execute at will with misdirection and a perfectly run route.
Taylor, who was 11 of 13 for 149 yards and five touchdowns for the Corsairs (4-1) while playing in front of his future college coach, Nebraska’s Matt Rhule, also connected for scores with senior wide receiver Eli Jackson, junior wide receiver Kyron Hart and sophomore wide receiver Gregory Bess-Henning II.
It was Owens’ third multitouchdown game of the season, but his production isn’t limited to offense anymore. He is also a starting cornerback.
“You saw how much was on his plate tonight, playing offense and defense,” Carmel coach Jason McKie said. “He made plays on offense, he made plays on defense and goes out there and plays on a high level.
“He’s been like that all year. He’s like our glue guy. We can put him anywhere, and we’re confident that he’s going to go out and show consistency each and every game.”
Owens made his second interception of the season on Friday on a tipped ball and returned it to Marian Catholic’s 3-yard line.
“The defensive coordinator definitely wants us to get pick sixes when we get interceptions,” he said. “So next week, if I get another one, I have to get into the end zone.”
All joking aside, Owens’ fluidity on defense makes sense. He certainly has a wealth of knowledge about how receivers work, and his athleticism also comes in handy.
“Coming into the season, especially with the record (4-7) we had last year, we wanted to have the best athletes on the field and just wanted to win,” he said. “We don’t have a big roster, so if I have to play both ways for us to win, then that’s what I’ve got to do.
“I’m down with anything I have to do to help us win, and sometimes it’s fun to be on the other side hitting people instead of being the one getting hit. That’s definitely nice.”
It’s nice for the Corsairs to have Owens leading a receiving corps that includes talented younger players like Hart and Bess-Henning.
“It’s good learning from him every day, being able to practice with him and learn things like how to run routes that I’ve never run before,” Bess-Henning said. “He tells me to be a better person than I was yesterday and to keep my grades up. He’s always on me about my grades so I can get into a good college.”
McKie has long known Owens, who committed to UMass in June, has the intelligence to succeed.
“He’s so smart, and that’s why he was able to play as a freshman,” McKie said. “The terminology and scheme wasn’t too big for him, and he always knew what to do.”
Owens also knows the measurables are a small part of his overall package.
“Ninety percent of the game is mental,” he said. “If you know what you’re doing and know what other teams are doing, that’s a real advantage.
“Being one of the smartest guys on the field helps you get open or be in the right position to make the play. Being a smart receiver definitely helps me get the separation I get or find the weak spots in the defense.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
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