2025 Football Roster

Jersey Number 45
Eli Owens
- Class:
- Freshman
- Position:
- TE
- Height:
- 6-1
- Weight:
- 244
- Hometown:
- Alcoa, Tenn.
- High School:
- Alcoa
At Michigan
• One-time letter winner (2025)
Freshman (2025)
• Appeared in two games (one game, special teams only) at fullback/tight end to earn his first varsity letter
• Made his collegiate debut as a fullback/tight end against Central Michigan (Sept. 13)
• Contributed on special teams against Texas in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (Dec. 31)
Prep
• Attended Alcoa High School (2025) coached by Brian Nix
• Part of an Alcoa program that has won 10 straight state championships at the AAA level (2015-2024) including all four years he was in school
• Helped the Tornadoes to a 13-1 mark and state championship appearance as a senior in 2024
• The team posted a 13-1 mark in 2023 and a 14-1 mark in 2021 and 2022
• Also competed in soccer and basketball at Alcoa; part of a team that won back-to-back Class 2A Championships in 2023-24
Key Statistics
• A two-way contributor for the Tornadoes who also contributed as a kick returner during his career
• As a senior in 2024, posted 315 receiving yards and four touchdowns; also credited with 72 percent of team’s rushing yards as lead blocker while offense averaged over 40 points per gam
• Also made 53 tackles (22 solo) with 12.5 for loss, one sack, eight pressures, two pass breakups; blocked one punt
• Credited with 35 catches for 415 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior in 2023
• As a sophomore in 2022, caught 33 passes for 385 yards with five touchdowns
• On the defensive side of the ball, added 21 tackles and 2.0 sacks as a sophomore
Honors and Rankings
• Earned a 247Sports Composite ranking of three stars; the No. 541 overall player, the No. 27 tight end and the No. 20 player in Tennessee
• Named a three-star prospect by 247Sports; the No. 35 tight end and the No. 18 player in the state of Tennessee
• Rated as a three-star prospect by ESPN, the No. 26 tight end/H-Back and the No. 21 player in the state of Tennessee
• Rivals.com four-star prospect, the No. 13 tight end in the nation and the No. 9 player in Tennessee
• On3.com three-star consensus prospect, the No. 601 player nationally, the No. 33 tight end in the nation and the No. 21 player in Tennessee
• On3.com three-star prospect, the No. 75 tight end in the nation and the No. 29player in Tennessee
• Prepstar ranking of three stars
• Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association 2024 Class AAA Mr. Football Semi-Finalist
• Knox News Elite 8 honoree (2024)
Personal
• Eli Owens was born July 5, 2006
• Son of Kendall Owens
• One-time letter winner (2025)
Freshman (2025)
• Appeared in two games (one game, special teams only) at fullback/tight end to earn his first varsity letter
• Made his collegiate debut as a fullback/tight end against Central Michigan (Sept. 13)
• Contributed on special teams against Texas in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (Dec. 31)
Prep
• Attended Alcoa High School (2025) coached by Brian Nix
• Part of an Alcoa program that has won 10 straight state championships at the AAA level (2015-2024) including all four years he was in school
• Helped the Tornadoes to a 13-1 mark and state championship appearance as a senior in 2024
• The team posted a 13-1 mark in 2023 and a 14-1 mark in 2021 and 2022
• Also competed in soccer and basketball at Alcoa; part of a team that won back-to-back Class 2A Championships in 2023-24
Key Statistics
• A two-way contributor for the Tornadoes who also contributed as a kick returner during his career
• As a senior in 2024, posted 315 receiving yards and four touchdowns; also credited with 72 percent of team’s rushing yards as lead blocker while offense averaged over 40 points per gam
• Also made 53 tackles (22 solo) with 12.5 for loss, one sack, eight pressures, two pass breakups; blocked one punt
• Credited with 35 catches for 415 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior in 2023
• As a sophomore in 2022, caught 33 passes for 385 yards with five touchdowns
• On the defensive side of the ball, added 21 tackles and 2.0 sacks as a sophomore
Honors and Rankings
• Earned a 247Sports Composite ranking of three stars; the No. 541 overall player, the No. 27 tight end and the No. 20 player in Tennessee
• Named a three-star prospect by 247Sports; the No. 35 tight end and the No. 18 player in the state of Tennessee
• Rated as a three-star prospect by ESPN, the No. 26 tight end/H-Back and the No. 21 player in the state of Tennessee
• Rivals.com four-star prospect, the No. 13 tight end in the nation and the No. 9 player in Tennessee
• On3.com three-star consensus prospect, the No. 601 player nationally, the No. 33 tight end in the nation and the No. 21 player in Tennessee
• On3.com three-star prospect, the No. 75 tight end in the nation and the No. 29player in Tennessee
• Prepstar ranking of three stars
• Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association 2024 Class AAA Mr. Football Semi-Finalist
• Knox News Elite 8 honoree (2024)
Personal
• Eli Owens was born July 5, 2006
• Son of Kendall Owens
Football Closes Bowl Prep, Readies for Last Game in 2025
Tuesday, December 30
Citrus Bowl Opens New Opportunities for Wolverines
Monday, December 29
Citrus Bowl Practice in Full Swing, Coach Whittingham Talks Priorities
Sunday, December 28
Kyle Whittingham Introductory Press Conference (Dec. 28)
Sunday, December 28



