Bear Insider Video: Cal OL LaJuan Owens

The Bears added four portal offensive linemen in the offseason to come to Cal along with new offensive line coach Famika Anae but only one played for him last season at New Mexico - redshirt frosh OL LaJuan Owens‍.

The 6-4/335 Owens started 10 games as a redshirt frosh OT for New Mexico, earning Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors in Week 11 vs SDSU after redshirting for a year at Tulane before transfering to UNM.

Owens was part of a thorough transformation of the New Mexico offense under Anae’s tutelage on the line as they Lobos replaced almost every offensive lineman on the team and still managed to build the number one sacks allowed line with just five as well as the number four rushing offense in the country.

"It was great," Owens said. "Coach Anae preaches a lot of physicality, especially mentally and physically. So you know, that was one thing that our O-line had last year. I feel like that helped us elevate a lot. So I feel like that's why I chose to stay with Coach Anae because I really love his coaching style."

Last year at New Mexico, Owens gave up an asounding four pressures as a player all season. The new Bear however downplayed the accomplishment.

"I mean, it's good, but I just want to get better every year," Owens said.

As for his strengths as a player, his physicality and ability to stop pass rushers in their tracks are high on the new Bears’ list.

"I'd definitely say my ability to sit down on the pass rush," Owens said. "When they try and bull rush, I usually stop them right then and there so I think that's one of my biggest pluses."

Though he played outside last season, his frame and blocking style may find him on the inside this season though he’ll likely get multiple looks.

"I played tackle last year, but I've played both," Owens noted. "I'll be going in and out, so interior and maybe left tackle."

With spring ball around the corner next week, what is the new Bears’ OL looking forward to?

"I'm really just most looking forward to (playing with) the guys in my room, seeing how well we work, how good our chemistry is together," Owens said. "We've been doing some stuff together outside of just football, trying to build the chemistry up. So I'm really looking forward to keeping chemistry with the guys in our room."

Stay tuned for more player and coach interviews coming up leading into and during spring practice.