News of Rueben Owens’ decommitment came with a bit of shock on Thursday morning. The five-star running back was just in Austin, being the main recruiter for some of the top 2023 prospects in the country.
Nonetheless, expecting a sophomore in high school, who just began taking on-campus visits, to remain committed is unrealistic.
The recruiting process is brand new for both the 2022 and 2023 cycle, thanks to the COVID-19 dead period. June 1 was the first time they could travel and take any kind of visits — interacting with coaches, other recruits, and getting a feel for campuses.
Owens announced his decision on Twitter, thanking the coaching staff, fanbase, and even the media. He cited an early decision as part of the reason for the decommitment and “there is a lot to carefully evaluate.”
Shortly after, Owens’ father caught up with Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports. He confirmed Texas was still the leader, but wants to go through the process the correct way.
“We’re just going to open it up and make sure we’re making the right choice for him and making sure he’s making the right choice,” the elder Owens said.
Before the original commitment in February, Oklahoma was thought to be the major player for Owens. Seeing a Texas commitment came as a bit of a shock at the time.
Before making it to Austin, recent trips to Alabama and LSU saw the five-star checking out the elite SEC schools. Being the No. 2 running back in the 2023 class, there should be plenty of other big-name programs coming after the Black Unicorn.
