10 biggest NFL draft busts in Oklahoma football history
By Josh Yourish
1970. Steve Owens, RB. player. . No. 19 overall. Steve Owens. 7. 50. . Steve Owens, RB
The College Football Hall of Famer dealt with injuries right out of the gate in the NFL. As a rookie, he suffered a shoulder injury which caused him to miss half of the season, and in six games he only ran for 122 yards on 36 carries.
Year 2 was a breakout year for Owens. He ran for 1,035 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 4.2 yards per carry and caught 32 passes for another 350 yards and two scores. He was dynamic and made the Pro Bowl, but never reached those heights again.
In 1972, the very next season, Owens only played 10 games and barely cleared 500 yards on the ground while averaging 3.6 yards a pop. His numbers steadily declined over the next two years with 401 yards in 1973 and 374 yards in 1974 before he suffered ligament damage in his knee and was forced to retire after sitting out the entire 1975 campaign.
Owens clearly had the ability to succeed in the NFL and did for one year, but injuries robbed him of a memorable NFL career and landed him on this list.