Jan 2, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Team Highlight defensive end Byron Cowart (99) rushes Team Armour quarterback De Andre Johnson (9) during the first half of the 2015 Under Armour All-America Game at Tropicana Field. Team Highlight defeated Team Armour 46-6. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Signing defensive end Byron Cowart would be a huge boost to the Auburn recruiting class (or anyone else, for that matter). There are three reasons why is the most important recruit of 2015.
Byron Cowart is a special player. In fact, he’s the most important recruit in the 2015 class. And believe it or not, it’s not just because of what he can do on the football field.
The five-star defensive end from Seffner, Florida is a consensus five-star prospect that is ranked No. 1 overall in the ESPN300 and in the Rivals100, and is a top-five prospect on just about every other recruiting service.
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However, at least on the surface and through his interactions with the media, Cowart hasn’t let the pressure that comes with being the nation’s most sought-after 18-year old affect him – and that’s a great sign for his future, as well as whatever school signs him.
According to most analysts, Cowart has trimmed his list of schools to Florida, Florida State and Auburn (UPDATE: Cowart told ESPN Thursday Auburn and Florida are his final two). He made an official visit to Auburn last week and said he felt at home on the Plains.
“Me and Coach Muschamp are real locked in, and he made everything feel at home,” Cowart told Jeffrey Lee of AuburnSports.com. “I was comfortable. I had fun. There wasn’t any stress and I didn’t have to worry about anything. This is the first time of going on a visit and just relaxing. I really felt at home.”
Cowart also mentioned an appreciation for the family atmosphere at Auburn and the fact that several members of the football coaching staff, as well as Athletic Director Jay Jacobs, played for the Tigers.
Will that family feeling be enough for Auburn to land one of the nation’s best players? It’s too early to tell, especially since he’ll be in Gainesville this weekend and Tallahassee January 30, the final weekend prior to the February 4 National Signing Day.
But, whichever program lands Cowart, they’ll get the nation’s most important recruit. Here’s why.
Next: Byron Cowart Will Make an Immediate Impact