FSU Recruiting: Former ‘Noles Commit Talks Smack

FSU recruiting has been on fire the last week, adding quality players in the 2017 and 2018 recruiting cycle. One former 2017 commit is happy he isn’t signing with FSU.

Four-star linebacker VanDarius Cowan was committed to the ‘Noles a couple of times before ultimately decided to commit to Alabama and supposedly shut down his recruitment.

Cowan made the announcement on April 9th:

"“I’d like to thank Coach Fisher, Coach Miller, and the entire FSU family. After talking it over with my family I’ve decided to decommit from Florida State and commit to The University of Alabama. This was the best fit for me and my family moving forward. I’d also like to thank all the schools that have offered me, but I will be shutting down my recruitment from here on out. Least but not last, ROLL TIDE ROLL.”"

After a couple of months Cowan has divulged why he ultimately decided to not stick with his initial commitment to FSU as he spoke to SECCountry.com:

"“Look, if you come to Alabama, you’re going to have to work,” Cowan said of how he begins his pitch. “If I go to Florida State right now, I can start as a freshman. It’s that simple. When I first went to Alabama, I talked to some of the players and they were telling me that you need to work if you go here. It’s hard. That intrigued me.“At Florida State, it was all about, ‘We play a lot of freshmen. You’re going to play from Day 1.’ You play a lot of freshmen when that’s all you can play. It’s not like that at Alabama.I don’t want to play with any chumps. I’m playing with top guys who are going to push me to play harder.”"

Please keep in mind that this is a teenager talking, but for those that like to follow FSU recruiting it gives you a glimpse into what happens in that world.

Why wouldn’t you want to play as a true freshman? Does it mean that you won’t work as hard as you should because you might start?

That didn’t stop Derwin James or Jalen Ramsey from working and playing hard.

Also, let’s be clear. That may have been the recruiting pitch given to Cowan but it’s doubtful he would start from day one unless both Matthew Thomas and Ro’Derrick Hoskins declare for the NFL Draft.

Also, he would have to compete against the No. 4 and No. 13 overall linebackers from the 2016 recruiting cycle in Dontavious Jackson and Josh Brown with Brown as an early enrollee.

It’s true that Alabama usually has one of the best recruiting classes in the nation each year since Nick Saban took over. Guess which program has had the most players selected in the NFL Draft since 1995 though?

Guess which program holds the record for most players drafted by the NFL over a three-year time frame?

You already know as a FSU football fan.

must read: FSU Develops Players Better Than Alabama

FSU will open up the 2017 season against Alabama. It will be the first time the two teams have met since their 2007 meeting which saw FSU defeat Alabama 21-14.

I guess Cowan can be satisfied with watching from the sidelines.