Rueben Owens II has moved from depth-chart afterthought to the most obvious candidate to anchor Texas A&M‘s running game this fall. His path to RB1 is built on flashes from 2023, an injury-shortened 2024 and a team-leading 2025 that answered questions about his capacity to carry a workload.
As detailed by Texas A&M Aggies On SI, the offseason exits of Amari Daniels and the unexpected end of Le’Veon Moss’s brief pro stint have opened a clear roster window for Owens to own the RB1 label going into the season. That roster change leaves the Aggies’ backfield pecking order more defined than it was a year ago.
Key Takeaways
- Rueben Owens II led Texas A&M with 639 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the most recent season.
- Owens missed most of 2024 with a lower-body injury and started a handful of 2025 games after Le’Veon Moss was injured.
- Jamarion Morrow is listed as the primary backup on the depth chart behind Owens.
- Texas A&M has not produced a 1,000-yard rusher since De’Von Achane in 2022.
Why Rueben Owens II is poised to be RB1
Owens’s elevation is less about a single breakout moment and more about cumulative availability and production across three seasons.
He was a reserve in 2023 behind Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels, but compiled enough work to show reliability when given carries, finishing that season with 385 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
The 2024 lower-body injury derailed a full follow-up season, yet Owens returned to start multiple games in 2025 after Moss’s injury and finished the year as the team’s leading rusher with 639 yards and five touchdowns.
Coaches can point to his late-season workload and situational reps as evidence they can increase his designed responsibility without adding external pieces to the roster.
What Owens showed on tape and in big moments
On tape Owens pairs sudden burst with top-end speed, traits that produced explosive runs when lanes opened while also exposing a balance issue he has publicly worked to correct.
The 102-yard outing against the Missouri Tigers, which included a 57-yard touchdown, is the clearest example that he can manufacture explosive plays when downhill space opens.
Owens has said “When I break out this year, I need to stop stumbling. Like, that has to stop,” and he reported emphasizing balance work during the summer, giving coaches a concrete technical focus to coach.
Rushing production and roster context
| Season | Role and notes | Rushing yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Reserve behind the Moss/Daniels tandem, earned situational work | 385 | 3 |
| 2024 | Injury-shortened season with limited action | 66 | 0 |
| 2025 | Started several games after Moss injury and finished as team leader; included a 102-yard game with a 57-yard touchdown | 639 | 5 |
How Owens affects Texas A&M SEC and CFP outlook
Securing a dependable lead back matters in SEC play where clock management and sustaining drives are premium values.
If Owens handles a true RB1 workload, it gives the offense a clearer identity against opponents who attack tempo and physicality and reduces immediate pressure in the transfer market.
Jamarion Morrow is the obvious next man up, and the depth behind Owens will determine whether Texas A&M leans on a single workhorse or a rotation through heavy conference stretches.
Reporting for this piece drew from original coverage by Aaron Raley.
