Alabama football depth at ILB takes big hit with Cowan dismissal

VanDarius Cowan spent much of his Alabama football career in trouble. His dismissal from the team leaves thin depth at inside linebacker even thinner.

“Savages want to play with savages” is a well-known tweet from VanDarius Cowan during his Alabama football recruitment. It appears Cowan was unable to make the distinction being a savage on the field does not allow being a savage off the gridiron.

Cowan’s potential afforded him the opportunity to become another in a long line of great Alabama Crimson Tide linebackers. But opportunity is never unlimited, never taken to fruition without sacrifice and diligence. Greatness carries a price and VanDarius Cowan was far short of the willingness or ability to pay that price.

Cowan was a much-touted linebacker prospect from south Florida. A consensus 4-Star recruit, rated by one service as a 5-Star. His physical talents were unquestioned. His decision-making was suspect. Cowan was kicked off his high school team and missed an opportunity to play in the US Army All-American Bowl.

According to 247Sports, Cowan was the No. 78 overall prospect in the 2017 recruiting class. He saw limited game action as an Alabama football freshman. An inattention to academics caused Cowan to miss multiple spring practices.

Rumors of other issues for Cowan

It has been long rumored Cowan was facing a four to six game suspension this fall, to be imposed by the NCAA. Those rumors include strong suspicion the purported future suspension was the result of a failed drug test.

Most recently, Cowan was arrested by Tuscaloosa police and charged with misdemeanor assault. There is a video showing punches thrown by Cowan at another individual in a Tuscaloosa bar. The University of Alabama acted shortly after the arrest and dismissed Cowan from the team. Nick Saban’s statement, reported by tidesports.com was,

"VanDarius has been dismissed from the team and is no longer a part of our football program due to a violation of team rules. Each of us has a responsibility to represent The University of Alabama in a first-class way, and failure to meet those standards can’t be tolerated. We wish VanDarius the very best in the future."

Perhaps there is a road back for Cowan. At 19, his life story is far from completion. The odds are high another school will take a chance on him. We can hope he learns from this life lesson.

His departure hurts the Alabama football roster. The perilously thin inside linebacker roster needed Cowan to contribute as a backup in 2018. But that is not the worst of this story. Far worse is when a gifted young man throws away opportunity.

Next: The Tide's Dynamic Duo at ILB

There is little optimism Keith Holcombe will continue his football career. The depth behind Dylan Moses and Mack Wilson is players with little or no experience. It is believed outside linebacker Christian Miller will also train at ILB in fall camp.