Expectations were sky-high for Byron Cowart coming out of high school. He was a five-star recruit and the top defensive prospect in the country when he decided to take his talents to Auburn. However, he and the Tigers never quite seemed to match: Cowart saw only limited opportunities along their defensive before eventually asking for his release from the program three games into his 2017 junior season.
He went on to transfer to Hillsborough Community College to focus on both his academics and on taking care for his mother. Cowart earned his degree, and later joined Maryland as part of its 2018 recruiting class.