Beloved Alabama college football player, 20, known for his kindness killed in head-on collision
An Alabama college football player — remembered by his team as a “towering presence of kindness” and recently baptized at the start of the season — was killed in a head-on collision.James E.Owens Jr., 20, was driving a 2019 Chevrolet Camaro when it collided with a Toyota Tundra driven by Justin E.
Carlee on Nov.10 around 5:30 a.m.
in Chilton County, WSFA 12 News reported.Owens and Carlee, 42, were both declared dead at the scene, authorities said.The incident is currently under investigation by troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Highway Patrol Division.Owens, a Tuscaloosa native, played defensive line for Huntingdon College in Montgomery.The Hawks football program posted a heartfelt tribute to Owens on Instagram in the wake of his death.“James was a towering presence of kindness and a force to be reckoned with as a member of the defensive line on Huntingdon’s football team.He was a great representative of our college on and off the field,” the program wrote.“Throughout his time as a Hawk, James carried himself at the utmost standard of respect, integrity, and kindness.”The 20-year-old was baptized during the season’s opening week — a special moment for the junior defensive lineman and his team, said Huntingdon College Chaplain and Dean of the Chapel Rhett Butler in the school’s post.“Of everyone I’ve baptized, James stands as the most abundantly assured person,” Butler said.“He knew Jesus, loved Jesus, and was insistent on taking the next step of his faith in his baptism.
He originally didn’t want to do it in front of a bunch of folks, but changed his mind when he realized what a witness his own faith was for the faith of others.”Huntingdon’s head football coach, Mike Turk, said that after news broke of Owens’ death, the team was committed to preparing for their next game to honor his legacy.“It has been one of those weeks where we need each other, we need to be together,” Turk told WSFA 12 News.“We...