Cowan mentored by Crimson Tide Alpha Dogs
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VanDarius Cowan, Rivals100 linebacker from Palm Beach Gardens High School in Florida, hoped to arrive in Tuscaloosa in January. He had to take a few additional classes before his arrival later this month. He is ready to join the squad in Tuscaloosa.
"I've been ready to get to Alabama since I committed," Cowan said. "Just two more weeks. What it means now is I got to work. There is no more time to play around.
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"It means everything to me to go to Alabama. I have it tatted on me now. I wish I would have committed to Alabama first instead of FSU. I am ready to go. I am in the clear now. I had three online classes to finish. I made A's in all three. It feels really good to get all my classes done."
It was tough for Cowan to see 16 members of his signing class on campus going through spring drills with him still a state away on the sideline.
"I went up there the week before A-Day," he said. "It was good. I had not been up there in a while. It hurt to see those guys out there. It hurt because I wanted to be up there early with them. I just didn't have the grades to get there early. It hurt more than I thought it would.
"Dylan (Moses) is more excited about me coming than I am, and I am really excited. I'm thinking there is a high level of competition, but he is excited for me to come and join the group. It hurt watching them practice. I felt like a recruit watching from the sidelines.
Cowan has maintained a pipeline of communication to Tuscaloosa. He's ready for whatever the team needs.
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"I talk to Coach Pruitt the most," he said. "I am an inside guy. That's where I am going to play, but I may start out on the outside like Rashaan Evans did. I just want to play. If I have to play outside my first year or two I will, but best believe I will work myself to inside.
Alabama's success in the NFL draft is well known especially at the linebacker position. The Crimson Tide has featured plenty of elite Alpha Dogs at the position which has included players like Rolando McClain, Dont'a Hightower, CJ Mosley, Reggie Ragland, Reuben Foster and Ryan Anderson, just to name a few.
"It was nice seeing all the guys get drafted," Cowan said. "It shows I am going to a nice program that produces a lot of great players. Some of these outsiders in the media say Coach Saban uses guys too much, but they are getting drafted and my guys are getting paid.
"I talked to Reuben (Foster) the other day. I also talked to Reggie (Ragland). Reuben was telling me to stay in the playbook. Reggie was saying to stay in the playbook and keep working. Ryan (Anderson) said to learn from Rashaan and Shaun Dion (Hamilton). They know everything. I really look up to those guys. Everyone works together no matter who starts. Those guys are some dogs. That's what I am going to be.
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"I talked to some of the guys up there. I feel like I have the work-out program down. I will be used to it when I get there. I told Rashaan I need to get in the playbook. He learned from Reggie. Reggie said Rashaan has me. Rashaan knows I am trying to get on the field. I want to learn the playbook like the back of my hand. I want to learn outside and inside."
Cowan knows a lot of work is required to see the field in Tuscaloosa. He has been putting in the hours away from Alabama. He is now ready to go to work.
"My first week working out (with Coach Cochran's program) was hell," Cowan said. "There are no breaks. I wasn't used to that. You are doing a lot of explosive drills. It's normal to me now. I am six weeks in. I try to finish my work-outs in an hour and 20 minutes. With conditioning, I do 16 110s (110 yard sprints). I get 30 seconds rest in between each one. I do each one in under 17 seconds. I do that three times a week.
"I know it's hard to start as a freshman. My goal is to outwork everyone in every drill. I want to learn the playbook and get on the field. Some people say it's Alabama, and you won't play until this year or that year.
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"I am not trying to rush anything. Don't put me out there if I don't know what I am doing. I don't want to be lost out there. I don't want to look stupid. That's what I always liked about Coach Saban and Coach Pruitt. They never sugarcoated anything. They never promise you anything. It doesn't matter if you are there one, two, three years or three weeks. They are going to put the best players out there."
The one-time Florida State commitment has some goals for the Crimson Tide's season opener.
"I have dreamed I am going to sack (Deondre) Francois three times," he said. "I can't wait to hit Cam Akers. Cam and I have been tight since The Opening. I am going to put him on his back and laugh. I'll help him up afterwards. We are still boys. I want three sacks on Francois though. That's what I plan on doing in the game."
Cowan currently stands a staggering 6-foot-4, 240-pounds. He is an impressive specimen, but knows it takes more than just looking the part to have success on the field.
"We didn't run many plays in our defense," he said. "I know basic parts of football like Cover 3 and Cover 2. I can stop the run. I never really had to cover a lot though. It's something I can improve on."
Cowan expects to room with Markail Benton. He plans to major in Business Management.
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