Proceeding to the second of the three 2025 prospects to cover, today focuses on TE Eli Owens. The Tennessee native leaned heavily towards Michigan after attending The Game in Ann Arbor, officially committing in early January. Exploring this TE/fullback prospect in more detail:
**GURU RATINGS**
Ratings by Site | Measurements |
|—|—|
| 247: | 6’1.5/243 |
| On3: | 6’2/230 |
Rivals: 6’3/220 |
| ESPN: | 6’3/230 |
* 3*, 88, NR Ovr, #19 TE, #11 TN (247)
* 3*, 88, NR Ovr, #24 TE, #11 TN (On3)
* 4*, 5.8, #210 Ovr, #6 TE, #7 TN (Rivals)
* 3*, no ranking (ESPN)
**COMPOSITE RANKINGS**
| Composite Rankings | Measurements |
|—|—|
| 247 Composite: | 4*, 0.8919, #355 Ovr, #19 TE, #11 TN |
| On3 Consensus: | 3*, 88.67, #367 Ovr, #23 TE, #12 TN |
| MGoBlog: | 3.5*, #476/805 Ovr, #31/53 TEs since ’90 |
Owens is a 3* prospect on three out of four sites, with Rivals giving him a higher ranking. His height, a key factor, varies among sources, with 247 listing him at 6’1.5″, while ESPN and Rivals are more optimistic at 6’3″. Owens is considered a moderately sized TE recruit, ranking 31st out of 53 among TEs recruited by Michigan since 1990.
**SCOUTING**
Scouting on Owens is less extensive than some peers, but there’s consensus on his positional versatility. On3’s EJ Holland suggests Owens could fill the Max Bredeson role, being a willing blocker with potential as an in-line tight end, H-back, or traditional fullback. Despite his modest height, Owens has a pass-catching skill set, drawing comparisons to the San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Juszczyk.
Charles Power from On3 admits the challenge of evaluating Owens as a TE due to his size but notes his versatility could make him a valuable asset in Michigan’s multiple offensive sets. Owens may not be a blue-chip prospect, but his skills could provide flexibility as a pass catcher.
Evaluating his actual skill set, Owens is praised for being a sophisticated route runner, with good hands, a long catch radius, and the ability to block effectively. While lacking game-changing athleticism, he’s seen as having more receiving upside than Max Bredeson, possibly contributing early in his college career.
**OFFERS**
Owens received offers from several SEC schools, including in-state Tennessee, Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Alabama. Big Ten schools such as Ohio State, Michigan State, Maryland, and Wisconsin also pursued him. Other offers came from Cincinnati, UNC, VT, Louisville, and various groups of five institutions.
**HIGH SCHOOL**
Playing for Alcoa High School in Tennessee, Owens hails from a program with a rich football history, boasting numerous state titles and a streak of nine consecutive Class 3A championships. The most notable NFL alum from Alcoa is former Packers star WR Randall Cobb.
**STATS**
2022–23 (sophomore) stats show Owens with 33 catches for 385 yards and 5 TDs, along with 17 kick returns. Junior season stats are currently unavailable.
This detailed overview provides a comprehensive look at Eli Owens, shedding light on his potential impact and the evaluations from various scouting sources.
