Former Maryland defensive end Byron Cowart seemed destined for success before he ever enrolled in college.
Cowart was rated the No. 1 overall recruit nationally by ESPN and No. 3 in 247Sports' composite rankings. The Seffner, Fla., native committed to Auburn on National Signing Day in February 2015, and he signed with the school on the same day.
Then, his career at Auburn went sideways. He played in 13 games as a freshman in 2015, totaling just six tackles. He was one of four Tigers arrested for marijuana possession the following offseason. He played in 10 games as a sophomore, again posting just six tackles, and he had an emergency appendectomy in November 2016.