A reclamation

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AUBURN | When you mix teenagers and social media and motivated coaches and the billion-dollar world of college football, sometimes something unexplainable, something defying even the most outlandish expectations, unfolds before our eyes.

It was Cyrus Kouandijo in 2011, having second thoughts after committing to Auburn on national television. He later signed with Alabama.

It was Alex Collins in 2012. His mother, unhappy with the choice to play football for Arkansas, snatched his Letter of Intent and disappeared into the mid-day sunshine. He signed with Arkansas anyway.

And now we'll forever have the curious case of Byron Cowart to ponder. A signed Letter of Intent, or perhaps two, and a winding journey from signature to fax machine. We may never know why Cowart's paperwork required more than six hours to arrive inside the Athletic Complex.

What matters now is that Gus Malzahn has the paper in his hand.

And he has his player in his plans. For good.

Cowart is the player Auburn needs right now. The Tigers learned the hard way during the 2014 season that the absence of a pass rush can wreck a lot of dreams. With Carl Lawson down with a knee injury and no real alternatives available, Auburn was forced to staff its defensive perimeter with a repurposed safety in Brandon King, a three-technique tackle in DaVonte Lambert and a pair of tweeners in LaDarius Owens and Gimel President.

Will Muschamp's situation will be much different.

Lawson has regained full use of his knee and will enter spring drills with a clean bill of health. He should enter two-a-days in peak physical condition with a year of pent-up frustration adding fuel to an already white-hot fire.

Cowart will be there, too, hoping to become the next Myles Garrett. Texas A&M watched giddily last fall as the crown jewel of its 2014 signing class, the five-star defensive end, add 11 sacks and 50 tackles to a defense sorely in need of front-line brawn.

Auburn's freshman has the same ceiling.

None of this was possible without Muschamp and Travaris Robinson, which is to say Malzahn showed yet again why he's among the brightest minds in all of college football. He spared no expense and remained patient in the face of a major logistical hurdle -- long-distance relationships with someone stationed in the Dominican Republic aren't easy -- to engineer the best long-term solution for Auburn's foundering defensive fortunes.

And then Robinson, who was dead-set on finishing his season with the Gators just as he promised. Auburn needed him in December, but didn't get him until January. Malzahn remained patient because he was that sure Robinson was a critical part of the solution.

So they worked together with new coach Lance Thompson and Dameyune Craig and Rhett Lashlee. They barnstormed throughout the Sunshine State and drummed up serious intrigue where only token interest existed before. It started with Cowart, of course, but extended to guys like Ryan Davis, Carlton Davis, Javaris Davis, Tim Irvin, Jeremiah Dinson and Jeffery Holland.

It transformed the Tigers' defense from a serial problem into an optimistic foray into the future. As Malzahn said Wednesday afternoon, Auburn got better.

"I'm glad they're on our side, I'll tell you that first of all," Malzahn said. "Will Muschamp's one of the best defensive minds in all of football, not just college. He's got a great reputation. He's sent so many people to the league, he's been a defensive coordinator in the (NFL), he can help guys get to where they want to get. He's a very upfront guy and he's a very honest guy. That attracts the right type of people. And of course, Coach T-Rob is very good with the relationships and did a very good job for us."

It'll take years for Auburn's Class of 2015 to be assessed in any proper sense. Some players will exceed expectations while others fall short. That's life for you. We're all on different schedules and we're destined to be great at different things.

Still, what happened Wednesday was a great start. A new defensive regime ignored the status quo and chased the best players in America. And it landed more talent than expected, with which it should be able to make tangible progress on the field next season.

This team is close to being very good once again. A better defense should equal more wins, possibly several more wins, and that's why Auburn will open the 2015 season as one of the most interesting teams around.

It all started here, on this day, when Muschamp and Robinson and the entire coaching staff showed that they're ready to become something better than it was.

Now the real reclamation project begins.