When the McCown family first gathered around a backyard football, most of the attention fell on the two NFL veterans—Josh and Luke—who together logged 31 seasons in the league. The outlier was the youngest son, Owen, the only left‑handed arm in the family portrait. Today, that same arm is leading the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Roadrunners with the same natural motion his father, former NFL quarterback and Vikings quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, praised when he first saw Owen throw as a child.
Family roots and early development
Growing up in East Texas, Owen was encouraged to play basketball and baseball before ever stepping onto a football field. He and his brother Aiden begged their father to toss them the ball, preferring one‑on‑one competition over a team drill. “They’d go out and cover each other,” Josh recalled, noting his surprise that neither became a defensive back or receiver.
In middle school, Owen played both receiver and safety, admitting he wasn’t yet ready to command a huddle. “Other kids were more developed,” he said, “but my dad kept reminding my brother and me that we didn’t have to be quarterback right away.” The family’s athletic DNA, however, proved impossible to ignore. A baseball throw from centerfield and a perfectly timed basketball pass convinced Josh that Owen’s talent was multi‑dimensional.
High‑school success and a pandemic setback
After moving to East Texas, Owen led Rusk High School to a playoff berth as a junior. The COVID‑19 pandemic robbed his senior season—and the senior season of future Patriots star Drake Maye—of postseason play, but the experience forged resilience. The McCowns turned their backyard drills into a summer passing camp, with Owen, Aiden and cousins working hard because they wanted to, not because their father demanded it.
College transition and early impact at UTSA
Owen initially enrolled at the University of Colorado before transferring to UTSA in 2022 to reunite with Jeff Traylor, the coach who guided his father and uncles in East Texas. The Roadrunners welcomed him as a backup to Frank Harris. After a brief loss of the backup role, Owen described the setback as “my big hit of adversity on Day One.” He reclaimed the spot, appeared in seven games, and earned his first start in the Frisco Bowl, delivering a 35‑17 victory over Marshall.
Three seasons later, Owen ranks second in UTSA history for passing yards (7,420) and passing touchdowns (63). At 6‑foot‑1 and 190 pounds, he may lack prototypical size, but his grit, ability to play through injuries—a bone fracture and a hernia—and composure under pressure have made him a reliable leader.
Clutch moments and leadership
On September 12, with the Roadrunners trailing Texas State 26‑24 and 4:31 left, Owen engineered a decisive drive. He converted two fourth‑down attempts—an 8‑yard pass to David Amador II and a 6‑yard keeper—culminating in Brandon High Jr.’s 25‑yard game‑winning run. “Those are two of the grittiest plays you’ll ever see,” Coach Traylor praised, noting the kid’s perseverance after missing most of the previous season due to injury.
Even after a tough outing against No. 1 Texas, where he completed 14 of 23 passes for 70 yards and threw an interception, Traylor defended Owen’s effort, saying the Longhorns’ defense was stacked with NFL prospects and that the experience would only sharpen the young quarterback.
Looking ahead
UTSA’s schedule now includes matchups against Colorado State, Rice and South Florida, offering Owen further opportunities to add to the program’s growing legacy. As his father reflects, “All those peanut butter and jelly sandwiches Owen ate to gain weight finally paid off.” The McCown family’s story—rooted in faith, hard work and a commitment to traditional family values—continues to inspire the Roadrunner community.
Owen McCown may not yet have an NFL contract, but his perseverance, leadership and family‑centered upbringing embody the spirit of college football in Texas.
Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.
