Sports
Schaus Refuses Release Of Owens
By: Michael Drapcho
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Even with a new head coach in place, the fallout from Jim Christian’s defection to Boston College continues. Evan Daniels from Scout.com reported that Ohio Athletic Director Jim Schaus has no intention to release Ohio signee Tariq Owens from his letter of intent.
Ohio's Athletic Director refused to give Tariq Owens, a four-star recruit, his release, according to a source.
— Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) April 6, 2014
Same source says, Tariq Owens has no intentions of going to Ohio and would sit out a year if he has to.
— Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) April 6, 2014
Owens, a four-star recruit from Maryland, requested that he be released from his letter of intent Wednesday after learning that Christian could potentially be leaving Athens. Daniels reported that Owens would be willing to sit out a year instead of playing for Ohio.
This is not uncharted territory for Schaus and Ohio. When Christian was hired in 2012, Caris LeVert, who had committed to Ohio under John Groce, requested a release from his letter of intent after Groce took the Illinois coaching job. Schaus eventually granted LeVert release from his letter of intent, though he did not do so until he had a chance to meet Christian.
This is more than likely the same strategy that Schaus is employing with Owens and Ohio’s new coach, Saul Phillips.
If Owens is granted release, whether it is before the season or after Owens sits out a year, he will have plenty of options. Before committing to Ohio, the 99th-rated recruit in the nation had offers from Miami (Fla.), Temple, South Florida and Virginia Commonwealth. He also received interest from Georgetown, Tennessee, Maryland and DePaul.