Profile: Byron Cowart

Byron CowartClick [rl]Here to view this Link.

Seffner, Fla. (Armwood)

6-foot-4, 273 pounds

Buck linebacker/defensive end

Byron Cowart in February became the first No. 1 overall high school recruit to sign with Auburn since Rivals.com began its rankings in 2002, but it never would have happened without the December arrival of Will Muschamp.

Muschamp's firing at Florida and hiring at Auburn flipped Cowart's recruitment, and following an official visit, ultimately flipped his decision.

Here's the Signee Profile on Cowart:

WHEN DID AUBURN FIRST BECOME A SERIOUS OPTION FOR YOU? When I knew Muschamp was going to be there. I had never talked to the defensive coordinator (Ellis Johnson) at Auburn. I had talked to Rodney Garner, but how can you go to a school when you've never even talked to the defensive coordinator? I knew Auburn always puts up points, but they needed help on defense in some areas.

When the defensive coordinator never called, I thought they must feel good with what they have or they don't need somebody like me. But when Muschamp was hired (in December), I already had a great relationship with him from when he was at Florida, and it just went from there. I just connected the dots from there.

MUSCHAMP MADE AUBURN AN INSTANT OPTION FOR YOU, BUT WHEN DID YOU KNOW IT WOULD BE YOUR NEW HOME? When I went on my official visit (Jan. 16-18) that's when I knew I really wanted to be there. I didn't want to go to Auburn because of Muschamp, and I wouldn't have gone and didn't. Once I got there and saw how they treat their players with a family connection, I was like 'OK. This is more than just Muschamp. This is a whole lot more than just Muschamp.' It was great. I loved it. I knew that if Muschamp were to leave or stay or whatever, I would still be happy with my decision to sign with Auburn.

I didn't go to Auburn because of Muschamp. I was more interested in Auburn because of Muschamp. My official visit is what sealed the deal. Muschamp opened the door for me at Auburn and I walked in on an official visit and loved it.

WHEN DID YOU INFORM AUBURN OF YOUR COMMITMENT? I told Muschamp and Coach (Lance) Thompson before I left my official visit that I was coming. Me, Jeffery Holland, Ryan Davis and Cece Jefferson all agreed that we were coming to Auburn. I'm a man of my word and we all said that we wanted to be there, but I also understand things change for people, obstacles in life change certain things in people's lives. Maybe you wanted to go through with something, but the way your life is set up you have to do something else. So I understand that and respect it.

But when I left my official visit, I knew for a fact that me, Jeff Holland and Ryan Davis were going to be Auburn Tigers. Cece told us he wanted to go to Auburn, but I don't think he ever told the coaches anything. He wouldn't tell them one thing and do something else. He's not like that. But when we left, Auburn knew they had me, Jeff and Ryan, and we actually went out after that and started recruiting for Auburn.

BUT YOU TOOK AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO FLORIDA THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND? I told you I'm a man of my word and I gave Coach (Jim) McElwain my word that I would take an official visit. I went for a night and stayed until Saturday around noon. My mom is a registered nurse and she had to go to work. She couldn't take off another weekend after taking off for the Auburn visit, but I told Coach McElwain that I would take an official visit. Out of respect for Coach McElwain and staff, we decided to go up that (Friday) night. I talked to him before we left Saturday and told him that he'd done all he could do and that I would go home and pray about it.

HAD MUSCHAMP REMAINED HEAD COACH AT FLORIDA, WHERE WOULD YOU HAVE SIGNED? Florida. No doubt.

WHERE DID YOU GO, IF ANYWHERE, THE FINAL WEEKEND BEFORE SIGNING DAY? I wanted to go to LSU that weekend, but I ended up not going anywhere. I shut it down that weekend.

YOU ANNOUNCED TO AUBURN EARLY ON SIGNING DAY. WHAT TRANSPIRED AFTER? I told my coach that I wanted to wait and talk to my life coach before sending it and my coach took that as I was having second thoughts and wanted to sign with Florida. He told me that I didn't have to sign right then if I didn't want to. Every high school has a pipeline to a college and my school's pipeline was to Florida, and being that Florida was in my top two it turned into people thinking I wanted to go to Florida. I never signed a scholarship with Florida. My mother never signed one. We took a picture of us with an unsigned letter and I put it on Twitter, but I knew I was going to Auburn. I was trying to get in contact with CeCe and Martez (Ivey) and see what they were going to do.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING TO PREPARE FOR YOUR ARRIVAL AT AU NEXT WEEK? I've been running a lot, especially at night. I've been working outside in the streets where I live working on dropping into coverage. I try to workout in running shoes to work on sinking my hips when I plant. I'm playing the Buck position and when you drop into coverage, you have to be able to plant and get the flats and the tight end, and if they run a bubble you have to come back down on the running back.

I've been working on sinking my hips by wearing running shoes on the pavement. When you're wearing cleats and on the field, you can plant better and get back down. But when you're on the pavement, you will slip if you don't sink your hips when you plant. I've also been working on my backpedaling, my back step. I know I can rush the passer. My get-off is good, but I need to get better at the other things.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THIS SEASON? We have the best defensive coordinator in college football. Auburn already had the pieces. Malzahn already did his job as far as fixing the team, getting it turned around and already won an SEC championship and played for a national championship. Our goal as a team will be to be the No. 1 team in the nation, to have the No. 1 defense in the nation.

WHEN WILL YOU ARRIVE IN AUBURN? I'll be there May 24. My roommate will be Ryan Davis.

COWART'S HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS