Tragic Loss of Alabama College Football Player
A college football player from Alabama, described by his team as a “towering figure of kindness,” has tragically passed away following a head-on collision. James E. Owens Jr., who had just been baptized earlier in the season, was only 20 years old.
The crash occurred around 5:30 a.m. on November 10 in Chilton County, as Owens was driving a 2019 Chevrolet Camaro and collided with a Toyota Tundra operated by Justin E. Curley. Reports indicated that both Owens and Curley, who was 42, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Alabama Department of Law Enforcement’s Highway Patrol Division is currently looking into the accident.
Owens was a defensive lineman at Huntingdon College in Montgomery and hailed from Tuscaloosa. The Hawks football program paid tribute to him, expressing that he was a remarkable representative of the university both on and off the field. They stated, “James was a towering presence of kindness and a force to be reckoned with.” They also emphasized that he embodied the highest standards of respect and integrity throughout his time on the team.
During a recent post by the Huntingdon College Chaplain, Rhett Butler shared that Owens was baptized in the first week of the season, marking a significant moment for him and his teammates. “Of all the people I have baptized, James has the richest conviction,” Butler remarked, highlighting Owens’ strong faith.
In response to Owens’ death, head football coach Mike Turk noted that the team turned its focus to their next game as a way to honor his memory. “It was a week where we needed each other,” he mentioned. “We started preparing to play well, knowing what James would want from us.”
A video shared in his memory showed participants wearing Huntingdon colors and releasing red and white balloons into the sky as a tribute to Owens.
The university expressed their condolences, stating, “Our thoughts and prayers are with James’ family, teammates, classmates, and everyone who was fortunate enough to know him.”
This season, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound junior had recorded 10 tackles over five games, totaling 20 tackles throughout his three-year playing career.
