Former Northwestern State DL Chancellor Owens becomes Arizona’s first defensive transfer commit

Brent Brennan and the Arizona Wildcats hosted a bevy of players from the Transfer Portal over the last few days. After landing wide receiver Luke Wysong on Friday, the ‘Cats added another. This time, it was on the defensive side of the ball.

Defensive lineman Chancellor Owens, who played at FCS school Northwestern State, committed to the UA on Saturday.

Owens, who’s 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, is arriving in Tucson with three years of eligibility left. He played a total of 18 games with the Demons while playing 12 of those this past season. In the two years he played in Natchitoches, Owens racked up 78 tackles, 12 for a loss, with 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a PBU.

The 2024 season was easily his best. He totaled 70 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and a PBU.

Defensive line is another position of need for the Wildcats with the departure of a key piece to the Portal or due to loss of eligibility. Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei entered the Portal on December 10, while other players such as Stanley Ta’ufo’ou and Kevon Darton ran out of eligibility. The main defensive line production returning will be from Tre Smith, who had 54 tackles 7.5 for a loss and 4.5 sacks. Some other key pieces returning include Chase Kennedy and Dominic Lolesio.

Owens had more tackles and TFLs than any member for the 2024 Wildcat defensive line with 10.5. He also would’ve tied with the most sacks on the team, matching Tre Smith’s 4.5.

You can view his film from this past season below.

Arizona still has plenty of work to do to fill its 2025 roster, as 30 Wildcats went into the portal and only 40 scholarship players remain from the 2024 team.