Who Needs 5-Star DE Byron Cowart the Most: Auburn, Florida or Florida State?
One of the most hotly contested recruitments in the days leading up to national signing day will play out among Auburn, Florida and Florida State for 5-star defensive end Byron Cowart.
Those three programs represent the finalists for the nation’s top defensive end prospect and the No. 3 player overall in the 2015 class.
He will visit Auburn this weekend, with trips to Gainesville and Tallahassee scheduled for the following weekends.
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According to ESPN’s Derek Tyson, Cowart admits that he’s already come to a decision on which school he will pick—but he also noted his mind could change depending on how his visits go.
But which program needs the talented Sunshine State product the most?
Auburn
Anyone who watched Auburn play last fall could tell that the defense was downright abysmal at times.
The Tigers finished 66th nationally in total defense, giving up just under 400 yards per game, according to CFBstats.com.
Auburn’s pass rush was also nonexistent for most of the season, with just one defensive end—rising senior DaVonte Lambert—who recorded more than one sack last fall, per CFBstats.com.
With new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp—who recruited Cowart heavily in his previous post as the head coach at Florida—set to jump-start the Tigers defense, adding an impact pass-rusher is among his first orders of business in recruiting.
According to Keith Neibuhr of AuburnUndercover (subscription required), Muschamp is pitching Cowart to play a hybrid role in which he would line up at defensive end and outside linebacker in certain situations—something that appeals to the 6’4”, 250-pounder.
If Gus Malzahn and his staff are able to land Cowart, it would go a long way toward getting their defensive woes ironed out in short order.
Florida
As Cowart’s Crystal Ball page indicates, Florida has been the longtime favorite for the Armwood High School product.
In fact, Cowart showed up at the Under Armour All-America game carrying a Chucky doll—which is a tradition started by former Florida defensive linemen such as Dominique Easley and Dante Fowler Jr., according to GatorBait (subscription required).
Additionally, new Gators defensive coordinator Geoff Collins is pitching Cowart on stepping into the role vacated by Fowler’s early departure for the NFL draft.
"He has a lot of guys," Cowart told GatorBait. "I can't remember the names, but a lot of guys at Mississippi State that play that Dante Fowler position. That's what I call it. Lot of people call it the hybrid, stand-up defensive end position. But he has a lot of guys that played that position. Third down, he sees me getting in there, rushing the quarterback and standing up.
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Considering the transition in the Gators program, landing a player such as Cowart—an impact performer who has been a longtime lean—takes on a greater significance for new head coach Jim McElwain.
Florida State
It’s no secret that Jimbo Fisher has recruited at an elite level since taking over as Florida State’s head coach in 2009.
The ‘Noles once again have a star-studded class that currently rates as the second-best group in the 2015 cycle.
However, one area where Fisher and his staff would love to add another blue-chip talent is at defensive end.
After a series of early departures to the NFL from last year’s defense, defensive back Jalen Ramsey is the only returning player who recorded more than one sack last season, per CFBstats.com.
Pairing Cowart with fellow 5-star defensive end and current early enrollee Josh Sweat would be a significant boost to a defense that struggled to get off the field in key situations last season.
A closer look at each of the finalists reveals that all three schools have a significant need for a potential game-changing pass-rusher.
However, between Auburn and Florida State, both programs have had enough positive momentum on the field recently to still field top-flight recruiting classes.
In Florida’s case, the need is greater to land a prospect such as Cowart, who could play a significant role helping to change the culture for the Gators program and give its 2015 class a major boost in the process.
Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
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