Out of Hueytown, AL, Ladarius Owens was a great get in Coach Chizik’s first full class at Auburn. 247 listed him as the #4 player in the state of Alabama, making him the best in-state talent in the 2010 class for the Tigers. He was a bit of a hybrid linebacker/defensive end in high school, but was recruited to play end at Auburn.
Owens also considered offers from FSU and Tennessee, but ultimately decided on the Tigers at the beginning of his senior season. After all, he was a legacy athlete at Auburn - his uncle, James Owens, was the first African-American player at Auburn and a standout on the 1972 Amazin’s.