COLLEGE STATION — Former El Campo Ricebird Rueben Owens II is preparing to begin his senior season with the Texas A&M Aggies.
Texas A&M will open its 2026 season against Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Kyle Field in College Station. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Owens, a Wharton County native, enters the season as an experienced member of the Aggies’ backfield. The 5-foot-11, 215-pound running back has appeared in 27 games and made 10 starts during his college career.
Owens led Texas A&M in 2025 with 119 carries for 639 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 5.82 yards per carry. He also caught 13 passes for 130 yards and finished the season with 769 all-purpose yards.
His best performance came against Mississippi State, when he rushed for 142 yards on 21 carries. Owens also ran for 102 yards and two touchdowns against Missouri, including a career-long 57-yard touchdown run.
Entering the 2026 season, Owens has recorded 1,090 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 236 carries. He has also caught 26 passes for 245 yards and returned 12 kickoffs for 249 yards.
Owens earned SEC All-Freshman honors in 2023 after leading all SEC true freshmen in rushing yards, all-purpose yards and kickoff-return yards. A foot injury suffered during fall camp limited him to two games in 2024 before he returned for a productive 2025 season.
Before joining Texas A&M, Owens played four seasons at El Campo High School. He rushed for more than 7,000 yards and scored over 100 touchdowns while helping the Ricebirds compile a 38-11 record.
Owens was named the District 12-4A Division I Most Valuable Player in 2021 and 2022. He was also named the Texas Sports Writers Association’s Class 4A Co-Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 and finished his high school career as one of the nation’s highest-rated running back prospects.
Wharton County fans will once again have a hometown standout to follow when Owens and the Aggies begin their season at Kyle Field.
Source: Texas A&M Athletics
PHOTO: Oct 18, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Rueben Owens II (4) celebrates after rushing for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images | Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images