Cowart impressed with Alabama

The nation's top prospect, Byron Cowart, took his second official visit of the season this weekend, where he was in Tuscaloosa to see Alabama shut out Texas A&M 59-0.

Before the game, Cowart said Nick Saban filled him in on the defensive game plan.

"I remember coach Saban saying before the game that he was going to let them loose," Cowart said. "He said he was holding none of his players back."

The end result speaks for itself, but Cowart wasn't as much interested in the score as much as where he stands with the Crimson Tide. Cowart had a number of questions for the staff going in and came away with an impression he received honest answers.

"I sat down with the coaches and we talked," Cowart said. "We had a real conversation. There was no beating around the bush. I had straightforward questions and they were answered.

"I wanted to know if they saw me red-shirting. It's Alabama - they get the best of the best, whether it's a defensive end, a defensive lineman or defense, period. They're all five stars at Alabama. So I wanted to know, if I came in, where would I be, how do they see me fitting in? They told me they don't see me red-shirting. They said they know for a fact that as long as I go in there and do what I'm coached to do and work hard, I will play as a true freshman."

Cowart took the visit to Alabama with another five-star from the Sunshine State, Cece Jefferson. While they were on the sidelines, they talked expectations.

"We're going to push each other," Cowart said. "No one wants to be a five-star bust. No one wants to be a bust, period. No one wants to be on the bench. We go to the Rivals camps, we go to The Opening, so we're already used to the top of the top as far as competition goes.

"Going to Alabama, it's like going to a Rivals Challenge or The Opening every day. You've got to compete. Cece and I, if we go to Alabama together, we know we have to be ready to go every day, 100 miles per hour."

Alabama was once Cowart's favorite. Florida has always been a mainstay. Oregon made a cameo appearance as top choice. Florida State is in the mix. Ole Miss as well. And once again, Alabama has Cowart's attention.

"I've always considered them since freshman year," Cowart said. "Things come up. I get discouraged. Recruiting is not what I thought it would be. It's a lot harder than what I imagined. I've learned to stay strong and not let outsiders change my look on things or affect how I feel. I've learned to listen to what the coaches are saying to me, to go to a game and hang around for a couple of days and see things for what they are.

"After that, who knows. There are a lot of similarities between schools."

Ole Miss is another school both Cowart and Jefferson are considering.

"I am very interested in Ole Miss," Cowart said. "I'm watching (defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche) and they need defensive ends. Cece and I talked about that a lot. We see Robert and with him, we really feel like we can run that thing there as freshmen. There are a lot of opportunities there."

Cowart has taken two official visits thus far - the other being to Maryland. He said he doesn't have another official visit planned, but does want to visit Alabama again on Nov. 15 for the Tide's game against Mississippi State.

"If anything, I'll take an official visit to Ole Miss," Cowart said. "But we'll see."

Another new development in Cowart's recruiting process: He no longer plans on graduating early.

"Me being the only child, my mother told me she wants me to stay the whole year and walk with my classmates," he said. "I've talked to all the colleges I'm interested in and told them I'll enroll in May.

"I may wait until signing day to announce."