LI rookies share dream of making Jets

FLORHAM PARK, N.J.

They hadn't met previously but are now intertwined, sharing a hotel room, a locker together and a dream they probably never even thought was imaginable.

Michael Owen and Jesse Rack are the same age, play identical positions and their hometowns are roughly an hour's drive apart on the Long Island Expressway. Rack, though, is familiar with Owen's native Riverhead, in part because he has relatives who live there.

They both attended college upstate, yet neither had a clue as to who the other was until a few days ago. Now, the two 22-year-old tight ends will be joined at the shoulder pads as they try out for the Jets in this weekend's three-day rookie minicamp.

"We were just talking about how we've got a connection out on Eastern Long Island," Owen said. "We are just both kids from the hometown. This is good. This is like a dream playing for the Jets. Their facility used to be at Hofstra. I remember going out there, you have the Jets' fan day and stuff. You got to meet the players."

Rack said: "It's a dream come true to play for a team from your home state. I mean, I live a half-hour, 45 minutes away. It's just a dream come true and an opportunity I always wanted. I'm just trying to make the most of it."

Rack, who hails from Maspeth, didn't think he was going to get this opportunity. He was pretty downtrodden after the three-day draft concluded, a bit somber as he kept waiting for the phone to ring with an offer.

About 45 minutes later - as was the case with Owen - it did. Guess who?

"I was excited," Rack said. "It was the opportunity I wanted. It wasn't what I expected. But it was perfect for me."

The 6-3, 238-pound Rack was mostly a basketball player during his early days at Christ the King. But he elected to play football his junior and senior years, lining up at defensive end, tight end and wide receiver. He had a few scholarship offers and Buffalo seemed to be the most logical fit.

Rack caught 38 passes, including two touchdowns, for 411 yards at Buffalo.

"I feel like I'm a pretty good balanced tight end," he said. "People kind of sleep on my routes. I can do both . I feel like I'm very versatile and athletic to do both."

Owen landed a scholarship at Syracuse, partially because of the well-chronicled recruiting process involving Jason Gwaltney - one of the most talented running backs in Long Island high school history. Owen, who played linebacker at Riverhead, performed well when he went up against Gwaltney and caught the eye of a few recruiters.

He chose Syracuse and was converted to a defensive end before playing his final three seasons at tight end. The 6-2, 249-pounder is mostly a blocker, but is versatile.

Said Owen: "The X-factor is I can play special teams."

Now, it's all about proving to the coaches that he's the total package before minicamp wraps up Sunday.

"At the end of the day, if the coaches want you, they'll tell you," Owen said. "If they don't want you, you've just got to move on and go. It's just my job to go out there and give 110 percent, just perform every play to the best of my ability and hopefully at the end, I can get a shot."

That shot might not be all that far-fetched for Owen or, for that matter, Rack.

"I don't know what's going to happen," tight ends coach Mike Devlin said, "but these are two guys that have represented themselves well that have a chance. So you've just got to play it by ear."