Tinker Owens
Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame
Oklahoma
Sugar Bowl: 1972
Inducted: 2019
Tinker Owens came into the Oklahoma program playing in the shadow of his Heisman Trophy-winning brother, Steve Owens. However, Owens established himself as a star in his own right in the 1972 Sugar Bowl. Making just his third career start, he caught five of the Sooners’ six total completions for 132 yards, including one reception going for a touchdown and another setting up a score as he became the first freshman to win the Miller-Digby Award as the Most Outstanding Player in the Sugar Bowl. Due to his 5-11, 168-pound size, many opponents underestimated the two-time All-American's ability and he made them pay, catching 62 passes during his career for 1,424 yards, placing him fourth on the all-time reception yardage list. His stats are all the more impressive considering Oklahoma’s wishbone offense during his playing days. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL Draft and played four seasons with the New Orleans Saints.
