Former University of Hawai‘i football star Chad Owens was named the latest edition to the UH Sports Circle of Honor on Thursday.
The announcement was made in a surprise video at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.
Owens, an alumnus of Roosevelt High School, joined the UH football team as a walk-on.
He made the most of his opportunity, earning Freshman All-American honors in 2001. His 342 kick return yards in a 72-45 win over BYU that season remains an NCAA record.
Owens' 5,461 all-purpose yards is still a UH career record, while his 3,031 receiving yards and 29 receiving touchdowns remains sixth and fifth in school history, respectively.
At 5-foot-7, Owens earned the nickname "Mighty Mouse" due to his diminutive frame. He electrified UH fans with his exciting play, particularly in the return game, where his punt five punt returns for touchdowns in 2004 remains tied for an NCAA record.
Owens was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft but was released in 2006.
In 2024, Owens was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame after starring in the league for nine years. While he was with the Toronto Argonauts in 2012, he was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player while also winning a league championship.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
