Palm Beach Gardens linebacker VanDarius Cowan committed to Alabama last April, shut down his recruiting last month, and signed with the Crimson Tide Wednesday morning.
During a chat with the media Wednesday, new Alabama signee VanDarius Cowan said he hopes to steer other area recruits – like Palm Beach Lakes defensive back Gurvan Hall – to the Crimson Tide. (Post staff)
In between, he kept his thousands of Twitter followers in the loop on everything related to his recruitment.
Cowan, a four-star recruit who committed to FSU twice before choosing Alabama, spoke to ESPN West Palm Wednesday afternoon and addressed his heavy use of social media and the criticism he often encountered with it.
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“It gets as little rough sometimes,” said Cowan, who was dismissed from the Gators in October following a loss to Wellington. The Wolverines clinched the District 9-8A championship in that game.
“You see things on there that I can’t respond to. They’re allowed to say what they want to say. Some people get blocked, some people get reported, and sometimes I show my mom the phone and say, ‘Do you see this?’ It can get out of hand, especially with me flipping from Florida State to Alabama. It really got rough then. It gets pretty bad.”
Cowan, the Post’s No. 1 player on the Class of 2017 Big Board, addressed a handful of topics during his media session Wednesday.
*On the Crimson Tide’s 35-31 loss to Clemson last month in the national championship game: “I expected it to be a good game. Clemson came back to win after losing last year. (Clemson quarterback) Deshaun Watson to me wasn’t one of the greatest players in college football, but after that game, I would say he’s probably the best quarterback I’ve seen play. After he got hit multiple times, he just got back up like nothing happened. He’ll probably be the top quarterback drafted in the NFL this year. That kid can ball.”
*On his upcoming agenda now that he’s signed with Alabama: “From here on, it’s straight working in the weight room – beast mode. I’m trying to gain more size, speed. From now until September when we play Florida State, I’m just trying to get it right now. I’m grinding.
*On encouraging other area recruits – like Palm Beach Lakes junior defensive back Gurvan Hall – to choose Alabama: “I’ve been trying to get Gurvan to go to Alabama for a long time. I’m trying to get him to take a visit when I’m on campus. I’m going to try and get Gurvan committed to Alabama. But I know he’s got other big offers. He’s looking at Ohio State, Miami. He’s got other big schools out there. So it’ll take some time to get him. But I’ll get him.”
*On whether he models his game after a top player: “No. I’m a ‘my’ guy. You should teach your kids to grow up and be like themselves.”
For the record, Cowan hopes to wear No. 10 at Alabama.
