HONOLULU - University of Hawai'i football phenom Chad Owens (5-9, 177, Sr.) was named second team All-American as a wide receiver and punt returner, by SI.com, according to the website posting earlier today.

Owens, a walk-on out of Roosevelt High School in Honolulu, is coming off a career performance, hauling in 13 passes for a career-high 283 yards and four touchdowns last Saturday, to help the Warriors upset Michigan State, 41-38, and earn a trip to the Sheraton Hawai`i Bowl.

"It's a great honor," Owens said. "I'm happy to be recognized on the national level and I want to thank my teammates. If it wasn't for all of them, this would not be possible because you can't play the game by yourself."

Last week, Owens was named first team all-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) for the second straight season. Prior to that, he tied the school record with five touchdowns (4 receiving, 1 pr) to help the Warriors defeat Northwestern.

Owens led the nation in receptions per game for six straight weeks (Sept. 5 through Oct. 10), and ranks fourth nationally averaging 7.83 catches per game, and ninth nationally, in receiving yards per game (98.0). He also ranks 14th nationally in punt return yardage, averaging 14.2 yards, and is tied for ninth nationally in scoring, averaging 9.5 points per game.

In 2004, Owens led the Warriors with a school-record 94 catches for 1,176 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also recorded 31 punt returns for 441 yards and a school-record four touchdowns, while leading the Warriors averaging 138.5 all-purpose yards per game (1,662).

Owens, who earned WAC Player of the Week honors three times in 2004, ranks on the UH career list in five categories, including receptions (231), receiving yards (2nd, 2,917), all-purpose yards (1st, 5,257), kickoff return yards (3rd, 1,354), and punt return yards (1st, 924).

- UH -