5-Star DE Byron Cowart Sets Visits: Where Does He Fit Best?

The final stretch of 5-star prospect Byron Cowart's recruitment will feature four official visits to campuses across the country. He announced his intentions Thursday to spend time at Florida State, Florida, Alabama and Oregon:

"

#officialvisits pic.twitter.com/JV5j9JaeXG

— Byron Cowart (@ByronHawkStar99) September 25, 2014"

Cowart, rated the nation's No. 1 strong-side defensive end in 247Sports' composite rankings, holds dozens of scholarship offers. He used his first official visit at Maryland earlier this month.

The 6'4", 250-pound prospect is among the most physically impressive recruits in the 2015 class. Cowart combines immense raw power with rare speed (clocked at 4.60 seconds in the 40-yard dash), covers the run and chases down quarterbacks.

He tallied 72 tackles and 13 sacks last season at Armwood High School in Seffner, Florida. Cowart has collected 23 tackles and three sacks through four games as a senior.

Now that we know where he's headed this fall, let's break down each visit and explore which option appears to present an ideal opportunity for the devastating Sunshine State defender.

Florida

The Gators have been viewed as a prohibitive favorite in this pursuit for a while, and that perception remains predominately steady through September. Cowart is projected to sign with Florida by 90 percent of predictions in 247Sports' Crystal Ball.

He's already spent significant time on campus and returned to Gainesville for game action earlier this season. Cowart plans to attend the team's Nov. 15 showdown with South Carolina.

Though the cause of Florida's woes under head coach Will Muschamp is often an anemic offensive attack, the team's latest defeat at Alabama proved there are plenty of holes to fill on defense. The Gators picked up some quality pieces last signing day, headlined by 5-star New Orleans defensive tackle Gerald Willis, but they could use a high-impact pass-rusher off the edge.

Cowart could immediately improve the program's 3rd-and-long defensive group and work his way into the rotation as a true freshman. He's been at or near the top of the list for Florida in this recruiting cycle since its early stages, but uncertainty swirling around the coaching staff doesn't exactly create a stable environment for high school prospects.

"The scary thing about it is I'm really comfortable with Florida," Cowart told Bleacher Report's Kynon Codrington. "The reason I say scary is the stability in the coaching staff."

"

With bae #Gators pic.twitter.com/WpcmSp2DmG

— Byron Cowart (@ByronHawkStar99) August 30, 2014"

Oregon

Oregon naturally stands out on this list due to lack of proximity, but this visit shouldn't surprise those who've followed Cowart's recruitment. Earlier this year, he told 247Sports reporter Justin Hopkins (subscription required) the Ducks are a mainstay among his favorites.

"Oregon has always been up there for me on my list of schools," Cowart said.

Oregon is competing with three teams that have won national championships in recent years and would allow him to stay in a familiar region. Despite those challenges, don't discount Oregon in this race.

The Ducks are known as an offensive juggernaut, but equal talent on the other side of the football could vault Oregon into a new level. Cowart could quickly become the face of an improved Oregon defensive unit.

The team has struggled to sign top-tier defensive linemen and is still searching in this cycle. Cowart, who will be in attendance for a Nov. 22 game against Colorado, would be one of Oregon's most important signings in program history.

His biggest fan is willing to follow him to the West Coast.

"My mom and I were discussing that we've never really lived in the same place for more than five years," Cowart told Codrington. "Wherever I go she is probably going to go with me. She said she wouldn't have a problem moving to a place like Oregon, so that gave me the green light to visit them and see what it's about."

Florida State

The Seminoles have come on strong in recent months, giving the Gators a fight for his top in-state destination. Florida State, like Florida, has enjoyed recruiting success when it comes to addressing the defensive front. 

Jimbo Fisher and company are still firmly in the picture for top overall prospect Josh Sweat, the No. 1 weak-side defensive end in this class. Seminoles fans would be celebrating wildly if the team manages to bring both elite defenders to campus next year.

Cowart could ultimately decide to stay in his home state after surveying the options, and if the choice comes down to coaching staffs, it's difficult to see him choosing the Gators over Florida State. Fisher has the best job security in college football for anyone not named Nick Saban and is putting out an on-field product that's far superior than what Muschamp can muster at the moment.

The Seminoles are set to host Cowart on campus for an annual battle with Florida. It's the ideal time for Florida State to showcase where it stands in comparison to the Gators.

Credit: 247Sports

Alabama

Cowart, like all athletes interested in Alabama, must accept the fact that playing time could be hard to come by as an underclassman. Saban has assembled five straight top-rated recruiting classes, packing the roster with an array of blue-chip prospects.

Despite the presence of so many standouts, especially along the defensive line, Cowart is a talent who shouldn't shy away from elite competition. He is, after all, elite himself.

"People tell me that Alabama is too big and that I'll never play if I go there, but only you know what you are capable of based on what you see," Cowart told 247Sports reporter Charles Power (subscription required). "You can't tell me I can't play at Alabama, because I know what I saw. They compete and they work hard. That's what Alabama is about and that's what I'm about."

Cowart traveled to Tuscaloosa for spring game festivities. He'll return in October to watch the team take on Texas A&M in one of the most anticipated college collisions this season.

It will be interesting to see how his experience at Alabama holds up against the three Cowart has planned for November.

Verdict

Given the question marks surrounding Florida's staff right now, it's difficult to view the Gators as his best fit. If Muschamp stays on board, Cowart is more likely to land in Gainesville. 

Oregon offers him a chance to become an immediate program-changer, whereas he'd just be the latest 5-star recruit to sign with his other options. The Ducks are in dire need of young, dynamic defensive linemen to contend with an incredible stockpile of Pac-12 passers for years to come.

Florida State and Alabama both have a wealth of talent on their rosters. While there won't be a clear path to playing time with either program, the Seminoles aren't nearly as loaded along the defensive edge as Saban's squad.

Accounting for program success and stability, along with positional need, Florida State seems to be the strongest fit for Cowart at this stage. Still, there's a long way to go until his recruitment comes to end.

Recruit ratings and stats courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted.