PASADENA, Calif. (KOIN) -- When Justius Lowe was a sophomore at Lake Oswego High School, he didn't really see himself as a football player.
"I really thought I was going to be a hurdles type of guy in track and field. But now it’s like, I love the game of football now. I enjoy it. The physicality and all that, stuff that I was scared about going into football, now it’s nothing to me," Lowe told KOIN 6 News.
However, injuries prevented him from being on the field much during his first two years at Oregon. Now, he's back, he's healthy and he's ready to help the Ducks in the Rose Bowl -- and beyond.
Being able to play has "meant everything, honestly, with all the injuries and stuff I’ve dealt with. Just overcoming those and finally able to play this year and show off my talents and stuff has just meant everything."
Once again, the injury bug bit him in the Wisconsin game on November 16. "But I'm back now and healthy," he said.
Playing still means something to him. He admits his newness to football makes him put additional pressure on himself when he's on the field.
"Nerve-racking honestly," he said. "Because me coming from LO and my small background, it was just like every play I had to make something happen and just try to make a big play every time I had the ball in my hand."
Now he hopes to lend a hand in leading the Ducks to their first-ever national title.
"It would mean everything. It would mean everything to the people before me, the people here now, the whole community around here, the whole of Eugene and just the state itself," Lowe said. "I’d probably be bawling my eyes out."
Oregon plays Ohio State in the Rose Bowl Wednesday afternoon.
