Sam Cowart
OLB, Florida St.

Name	Jsy	College	HT	WT
Sam Cowart	1	Florida St.	6007	246

40	BP	SS	LS	VJ	BJ	Grade	Rd.
4.7	N/A	4.28	11.94	30.5	09’04”	6.6	1-2

Background Returned to the Seminole defense after missing the entire 1996 season while rehabilitating a knee injury....1997: A finalist for the Butkus and Bronko Nagurski Awards this year....selected to the Associated Press All- American team....named to the Football News, Sporting News, and FWAA All-America teams...first team All-ACC....Football News National Defensive Player of the Year finalist...received ACC’s Brian Piccolo Award for the comeback player of the year...FSU’s leading tackler with 116 total stops....credited with a career-high 18 tackles, including 12 solo stops, in season opener vs. USC....recovered 3 fumbles for TDs this season (FSU record)...ranked 9th in ACC with 10.5 tackles per game....1996: Sat out entire season as a medical redshirt after reconstructive knee surgery in January....1995: Leading tackler with 115 stops (76 solo)....averaged 10.5 tackles a game....ranked 6th in ACC in tackles & 5th in tackles for a loss....registered 3 sacks & 13 tackles, also led team with 10 tackles for a loss.....1994: Finished year as 3rd leading tackler....played in every game and was in on 76 tackles, including 44 solo stops as soph....recorded team-high 13 tackles with a QB sack & a tackle for loss in season opener vs. Virginia....1993: Appeared in all 13 games....tallied 31 tackles on the year, including 18 solo stops....

High School Named Jacksonville’s Defensive Player of the Year by Florida Times-Union as a senior....a SuperPrep All-American and USA Today honorable mention All-American....considered on top of LBs in Southeast by Blue Chip Illustrated....registered 149 tackles, including 14 for loss as senior....also had 3 sacks, 2 pass breakups, and 3 fumble recoveries....

Academics Majoring in Business at Florida State....State: ‘97 - 62 solo, 54 asst, 116 tot., 8 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 PBU, 0 FC, 3 FR, 0 Int....’96 - Redshirted...’95 - 76 solo, 39 asst, 115 tot., 10 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 PBU, 0 FC, 2 FR, 1 Int....’94 - 44 solo, 32 asst, 76 tot., 2 TFL, 1 sack, 2 PBU, 0 FC, 0 FR, 0 Int....’93 - 18 solo, 13 asst, 31 tot., 0 TFL, 1 sack, 0 PBU, 0 FC, 1 FR, 0 Int....Totals: 200 solo, 138 asst, 338 tot., 20 TFL, 9 sacks, 5 PBU, 0 FC, 6 FR, 1 Int.

Summary After missing the 1996 season with a serious knee injury, Cowart has made a nice recovery and has had an outstanding Sr. year for the Seminoles...He has excellent athleticism and quickness, and is one of those OLBs that absolutely flies to the ball. He has quick reactions, reads plays well, and has a burst and explosion. He gets over the trash well, protects his body, and can make a lot of backside plays. He plays with good leverage and overall strength and can hold up at the POA vs. the run. If he is clean medically, he will be a solid NFL player, and he should make an impact for some NFL team.