Vandarius Cowan Commits to Florida State: Noles Land 2017 4-Star DE

The Florida State Seminoles currently have the top-rated recruiting class for 2016, based on 247Sports' composite rankings, and are already making headway on being first overall in 2017 with Thursday's commitment from 4-star in-state prospect Vandarius Cowan.

The 6'5", 220-pound Cowan is ranked 167th overall in the 2017 class and is considered the ninth-best weak-side defensive end, though much of his highlight film shows him playing middle and outside linebacker.

"He has some of the best defensive front-seven range in the 2017 class," Bleacher Report recruiting expert Tyler Donohue said. "Several teams project him as a defensive end, but he's expected to line up at outside linebacker in Tallahassee. He has a chance to become a feared pass-rusher from the stand-up position."

Cowan made his decision a day after attending the Jimbo Fisher Football Camp in Tallahassee. He had been offered by the Seminoles on April 30 and has since picked up offers from Auburn, Florida and Georgia. Louisville, Miami (Florida), Michigan State and Notre Dame were among the others who had previously offered the Palm Beach Gardens prospect.

"I always grew up a Florida State fan," Cowan told Chris Nee of 247Sports. "It is just one of those things. It made it better when they offered me. I wasn't expecting it, at so young in high school."

Being able to have contact with Fisher and defensive coordinator Charles Kelly while at the camp helped "push me over the edge" to make the commitment early, Cowan told Nee. He was also able to spend more time with linebackers coach Bill Miller, who has been Cowan's primary recruiter.

More than 350 high school athletes participated in the camp Wednesday, per Safid Deen of the Tallahassee Democrat. Additional camp sessions are scheduled through Saturday, with current FSU players expected to attend or help with instruction.

Cowan is FSU's fourth commitment for the 2017 class, all of whom are Florida prospects ranked in the top 175 nationally. Zaquandre White, a 4-star running back, committed in February, while 4-star defensive tackle Ja'len Parks and 5-star wide receiver D.J. Matthews have been pledged to the Seminoles since July.

All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports, unless otherwise noted.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.