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Maryland DT Byron Cowart headed to New England
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Maryland has now produced two NFL Draft picks this season.
Defensive tackle Byron Cowart was taken late in the fifth round on Saturday, selected by the New England Patriots with the 159th overall pick. He joins fellow defender Darnell Savage, who was taken in the first round by the Green Bay Packers at No. 21 overall.
Cowart did a little bit of everything last season, showing off his athleticism on the defensive line. He finished the year with 38 tackles, including five for loss, two interceptions and forced a fumble. At times, he was one of the better linemen in the B1G.
However, Cowart played with some inconsistency and was slow off the ball. Those characteristics dropped his stock a bit heading into the NFL Draft, but his size and potential are still appealing traits to the Patriots.
And who better utilizes talent than New England?
Cowart can shed blockers easily and uses his hands effectively. He’s got NFL size at 6-foot-3, 300 pounds and is capable of making plays on the field.
He’ll get a chance to prove he was the right selection for New England in the fifth round.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB