Owens attended Fullerton Union High School, where he played as a quarterback and defensive back.
Owens enrolled at Fullerton Junior College, where he became the fifth member of his family to play sports at the school.
He posted 974 passing yards, 7 passing touchdowns, 556 rushing yards (led the team) and 6 rushing touchdowns (led the team), while ranking twelfth in the nation in total offense.
[3] In 1990, he received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award for his deep commitment to the community and country.
On August 30, 1966, he was traded, along with Jake Kupp and Mitch Johnson, to the Washington Redskins for Jim Steffen and a fifth-round draft choice (#119-Willie Parker).
He played a significant role in leading the 1972 squad to Super Bowl VII and had a good performance in the game, recording a key interception from Miami Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese in the end zone during the second half.
After the NFL, Owens graduated from Antioch School of Law, and received his Doctorate of Juris Prudence from Potomac Law School, before serving in the National Football League Players Association as an assistant executive director from 1979 to 1984.