📝 Cowart and Jefferson and Lance Thompson

[bama alum]

http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2015/01/auburn_targets_cece_jefferson.html#incart_m-rpt-2

Left to right: Jeffery Holland, Lance Thompson, Byron Cowart and CeCe Jefferson (bottom) at Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium. (247Sports)

Landing a prospect like CeCe Jefferson, Byron Cowart or Jeffery Holland would be huge for any college football program seeking elite talent on the defensive side of the ball.

But what if the Floridians decided to make it a package deal? It's not outside the realm of possibility.
"Yeah, we're going to stick together," Cowart said after his official visit to Auburn Sunday. "We'll all play at the same school, because we know we can make an impact. One guy can't make a difference at a school, and I don't think people understand that.

"You can be a great player, but you can't make an impact going to a school by yourself. You have to have a team. Some guys have to go with you and turn the whole program around."

All three players have strong connections with Will Muschamp, who had been recruiting them to Florida for years before taking the defensive coordinator job at Auburn.

Cowart and Jefferson are both five-star defensive ends who are ranked as the third and seventh overall players in the nation by the 247Sports Composite, respectively. Cowart is down to Auburn, Florida and Florida State while Jefferson declined to name any finalists. Holland, a four-star linebacker prospect, is considering Auburn, Florida and UCLA.

"Signing Day is near, so if (Cowart) wants to do that I'll have to get with him and touch base," Jefferson said. "He's a great player, and in order to change a program you can't do it by yourself. You have to have great players follow you. I wouldn't mind doing that at all. If Jeff wants to come, he's a great player too. I wouldn't mind at all.

"That would be huge for whichever program, if we decide to go to a package deal. Being here with all those guys and getting a chance to talk with them and seeing where they're at in the recruiting process was mind-blowing, because just a couple months ago we were starting our senior seasons focused on football, but now Signing Day's here. It's crunch time and we're just getting ready for it. Hopefully we'll bring some good luck to somebody's program."

Many Auburn commits told AL.com they felt good about the team's chances of landing all three prospects after this weekend's visit. Safety Jordan Colbert says the trio could make a return trip next weekend.
"It was a good chance to talk to those guys to see where they're head's at in terms of getting to the Plains," he said. "I know we have a good chance with three of them. I can't really tell about Ryan Davis... but when I talk to Byron, he told me when he comes he's bringing two others with him. Word around campus right now is CeCe, Byron and Jeff, all three will be coming back next week."

"Once we get those three guys, we're going to be sitting pretty good."

 

[UAgrad93]

Cowart has been playing fanbases like a banjo. We dropped off the face of the earth with him and then he names us a finalist because we offer the degree he wants. I think all 3 stay in state in the end.

 

[BamaFan334]

I agree. Cowart is just soaking up the attention and keeping schools close because he likes hearing how good he is. Good talent, no doubt. But it's clear he likes being told how great he is.

 

[Bamabww]

Yeah, Cowart is gonna be raised in a barn.

AU 'feels like home'
Jeffrey LeeAuburnSports.com Senior Editor
AUBURN | Armwood (Seffner, Fla.) five-star defensive end Byron Cowart hadn't been to Auburn since the Tigers' "Kick Six" win over Alabama in November 2013. Still, he felt at home this weekend during his official visit to the Plains.
That might have had something to do with the familiar faces, namely new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and cornerbacks coach Travaris Robinson, both of whom heavily recruited Cowart while at Florida.

Cowart said he, CeCe Jefferson and Jeffery Holland all will play together at the same college.
"Them being here is what stood out to me," Cowart said. "It was great seeing them here, especially Coach Muschamp.

"Me and Coach Muschamp are real locked in, and he made everything feel at home. 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."

That could be attributed to the family feel around campus, Cowart said. And when Auburn says "family", he now understands why.

"When they say 'family', you really can feel it," he said. "It was like family for real. They take care of their guys, too. A lot of the people that work in (athletic department) played here.

"At least I know that if football doesn't work out and I come here, I can always come back because they take care of their guys."

Cowart was one of several highly-ranked prospects from Florida in Auburn this weekend, including five-star defensive end CeCe Jeffersonand four-star linebacker Jeffery Holland. All three enjoyed their weekend, Cowart said. He also added that the trio would play together in college.

"Me, CeCe and Jeffery all liked it," Cowart said. "And we'll all stick together. We'll all play at the same school because we know we will make an impact.

"One guy, even if you're a great player, can't make an impact by yourself. You need some guys to go with you to change the whole program around."

Cowart next will take an official visit to Florida (Jan. 23-25) and then take one to Florida State (Jan. 30-Feb. 1). He'll make a decision on Signing Day, Feb. 4, and he knows what he's looking for in his choice.

"My biggest thing is being able to start my major (journalism) as soon as I get on campus," he said. "If I keep doing what I'm supposed to do on the field, I'll be gone to the NFL in three years and I'm not going into the draft without my degree.

"That's why I don't want to waste time. I wanted to see that (Auburn) had a three-year plan written out for me and they did, which means they care about what I want to do and that means a lot to me."

https://auburn.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1726571

 

[Bamabww]

I wonder if Byron Cowart is as big of an egotistical b@$tard as he comes across as being? He comes across a guy who seems to honestly think he's doing a huge favor to whatever school he chooses to go to. It seems like CeCe is riding his coattail the entire way too. I know he's a talent but ...... I guess his attitude and ego become CNS's problem once he signs.

But I think he goes to the barn