Former Northridge High Standout, Huntingdon Defensive Lineman Killed In Crash

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Huntingdon College defensive lineman and former Northridge High School football standout James Owens Jr. was killed early Monday morning when the car he was driving collided head-on with another vehicle on Highway 82 in Chilton County.

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He was 20 years old.

Owens was reportedly driving a Chevrolet Camaro when it struck a Toyota Tundra head-on, killing him and one other person. The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation.

A junior at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Owens was known as a dedicated student-athlete and a kind, steady presence on and off the field.

Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 235 pounds, the Tuscaloosa native was developing into a key member of Huntingdon’s defensive line, appearing in 13 career games and recording 20 tackles.

"This one is so tough," former Northridge High football coach Mike Vickery posted on Facebook about his former player. "James Owens always had a smile on his face. An incredible teammate to so many. Please keep his family, and the Northridge/Huntingdon communities in your prayers. Love you James!"

In a statement released Monday, Huntingdon College described Owens as “a towering presence of kindness and a force to be reckoned with,” whose impact went beyond football.

“James was a great representative of our college on and off the field,” the statement read. “Throughout his time as a Hawk, James carried himself at the utmost standard of respect, integrity, and kindness.”

Huntingdon College Chaplain Rhett Butler, who baptized Owens after a recent football practice, remembered him as “the most abundantly assured person” he had ever baptized.

“He knew Jesus, loved Jesus, and was insistent on taking the next step of his faith,” Butler said. “He realized what a witness his own faith was for the faith of others.”

Before joining Huntingdon, Owens played for Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa, where he was known as a team leader and dependable player.

"There is greater value in the college experience than the earning of a degree," Huntingdon President Anthony Leigh said on social media. "Football and athletics are more than one school competing against another. I celebrate the life of James Owens, the brotherhood he formed at Huntingdon, and the knowledge that he knew his Savior and he pointed others to Him during his time among us."

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