Ohio State prioritized Rivals250 DL Jacolbe Cowan, gets his commitment
The recruitment of Rivals250 defensive lineman Jacolbe Cowan began his freshman year and picked up plenty of momentum over the next few season. Now, after narrowing his offers down to Clemson, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio State, and Tennessee, the Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day star has committed to Ohio State.
IN HIS OWN WORDS...
“Really, me picking the Buckeyes came down to me being treated like a top priority for them,” Cowan said. “I have a great relationship with that staff. Coach Johnson, the defensive line coach, is a legendary coach and is known as the best defensive line coach in the nation. He's known for developing guys and putting guys in the league.
“The defensive staff as a whole with coach Mattison and coach Jeff Hafley, the co-defensive coordinators have really changed the defense around since last year,” he said. “You can definitely tell by the games they’ve played so far. Also, coach Day is a great coach and the program is headed in a special direction behind him. A lot of people thought things were going to change for Ohio State after he took over but, as you can clearly see, the program's still headed in the right direction.
“I have been there three times,” said Cowan. “In the spring, right after I got the offer my sophomore year I visited. Then the following season I was there for the Michigan game and of course my official visit back in June.
“They treated me like a priority during the visits,” he said. “I felt comfortable with the program and the place as a whole. You can tell just how close knit the players are. The impact of the players and just the program as a whole, it does a lot of things for you because you really can see how things are if you're in the program. They treated me like a top priority throughout my entire recruitment.”
RIVALS' REACTION...
With just two other defensive linemen in this recruiting class, Ohio State is getting a player in Cowan that can fill a variety of needs. The 6-foot-5, 270-pound Cowan has the frame of a defensive tackle but has the quickness and athleticism to be an effective defensive end. He has good hand techniques and knows how to play with leverage so he is solid against the run and as a pass rusher. Ohio State’s strength and conditioning staff have plenty to work with in Cowan but his role at Ohio State will all be determined by how his body changes once in the program.