Q&A with Jameel Owens

Published: February 9, 2008

They call Jameel Owens "J.O.” You know, like "T.O.”? And like Terrell Owens, the Muskogee High receiver who signed earlier this week with Oklahoma has a personality that's every bit as big as his game.

Jenni Carlson: The recruiting madness is over. What's life like now?

Jameel Owens: Life now is chill. I just get to go to school, work out and enjoy the rest of my high school.

JC: What's the best thing about being a high school kid?

JO: Just moochin' off your parents.

JC: What about being Jameel Owens at Muskogee High?

JO: It's cool, man. Everybody knows me. I'm a friendly person, so you don't have to worry about me shootin' you down if you come say, "What's up?” I'll talk to anybody who talks to me.

JC: You're outgoing then?

JO: I'm the goofball of the team. If I can make someone smile, it's a big deal. I've always been that goofball. I like to smile a lot, like to laugh. If you're smilin', then you're not sad.

JC: What do you do with your time away from football?

JO: To be honest, I just like to chill with people I grew up with. They're just as goofy as I am. We can sit down and do nothin' and just laugh all day, just crack jokes.

JC: Just a guess, but you're a Comedy Central guy.

JO: If I have time, I'll watch some Cat Williams. I like him. He's real funny. Will Smith. Martin Lawrence. All of 'em. They make me laugh.

JC: Tell me about your role models, people you've idolized growing up.

JO: If anybody, it's my mother. We've been through a lot together. For her to be as strong as she is right now, it's a big deal. The reason why I'm the person I am today is because of my mother.

JC: What did you most learn from her?

JO: Never to give up. There's been times we had rough times growing up, and if I needed something, she'd hold off what she needed to do to get that for me.

JC: So, what does it mean for you to get a college scholarship?

JO: Everything I do is for my mom. It's for me, but then again, to see the smile on my mother's face ...

JC: What did she say on Signing Day?

JO: She's just happy. She said, "We did it.”

JC: That had to be the best feeling.

JO: I was just shaking. I've never been that nervous even when I'm talking in front of people. This is the most nervous I've ever been, signing that piece of paper. It was just a big sign of relief.

JC: Tell me something about your teammate, Stacy McGee.

JO: We call him "King Kong.” "Big Kong.” Big and bad. Just like a gorilla. He just muscles people around.

JC: What kind of player will he be at OU?

JO: A great player. He's an All-American.

JC: What about Jameel Owens?

JO: Jameel Owens is going to be a player that ... I dunno. Go work hard and pursue my dreams, and hopefully, I can be an All-American, too.

JC: What motivates you now?

JO: To be one of the best. I think I left my legacy here at Muskogee. I just want to go to OU and do the same thing.

JC: You all right leaving the green and white behind for crimson and cream?

JO: It's gonna be hard. I can do it.

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