LITTLE ROCK — The fifth in a series profiling new additions to the Arkansas football team.Olive Branch (Miss.) Coach Scott Samsel knew D’Arthur Cowan could be a special football player when he saw Cowan as a sophomore.
Seeing promising athletes is nothing new to Samsel or Olive Branch, which churned out 18 college football signees in February.
One of them was Cowan, who signed to play receiver at Arkansas.
Cowan, 6-3, 170 pounds, was one of the early oral commitments to the Razorbacks after deciding during the summer. Cowan then went out and had a strong senior season, catching 63 passes for 1,255 yards and 15 touchdowns to lead the Conquistadors to Mississippi’s Class 6A state championship.
“When we needed someone to make a play, he made it,” Samsel said. “He is very poisedand very confident and made plays in clutch situations.” Cowan is ready to do the same for the Razorbacks.
“I’m just ready to experience college,” said Cowan, who reported to Fayetteville earlier this month. “I’m ready to get to Arkansas and compete with the best players in the nation. My goal is to play my role on the team, whatever that is, whatever it takes to help them out to win.” Cowan’s team-first attitude gave Arkansas defensive coordinator Paul Haynes an easy opening for a good-natured prank. When Haynes met Cowan, he was aware Cowan had played defensive back for Olive Branch before switching to offense as a junior.
“Coach Haynes told me, ‘I heard you played cornerback, so we might put you on defense,’ ” Cowan said. “He was just joking. I’m an athlete, though. I can play any position they put me at.” Samsel said Cowan’s attitude isn’t a put-on, either. Samsel said Cowan comes from an athletic family - Cowan’s cousin, K.J. Wright, played at Mississippi State and was drafted by Seattle in the fourth round in 2011- and has had humbleness instilled in him by playing for a strong football program such as Olive Branch.
“He’s not an a like some players who think they’re the best thing since peanut butter and jelly,” Samsel said. “He’s a great player and a better person. If you want a champion, you want a player who is a high-character person, someone who will not let you down in clutch situations.” Samsel said Cowan, who has been timed at 4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash, was the anchor for the Conquistadors’ 400- and 800-meter relay teams at the state track and field meet. Both teams won state titles, and Cowan finished third in the high jump, clearing 6 feet, 2 inches,even though he only jumped at the state meet.
“The guy on the anchor has to be the guy with guts,” Samsel said. “D’Arthur is a champion. You can’t replace that. No amount of athleticism will substitute for that.” After Cowan orally committed to Arkansas, he had to hold fast after receiving pressure from in-state schools and friends who urged him to stay in Mississippi. Cowan, supported by Samsel, didn’t waver.
“Coach told me to make the best decision for me and my family,” Cowan said. “A lot of guys on blogs were talking stuff, spreading rumors, and Ole Miss tried to hit me really hard. I kept telling them Arkansas was where I was going.
“I’m a man of my word.” Cowan has been studying the Razorbacks’ playbook - the offensive playbook - so he will be ready when practice starts. He said in one regard it’s similar to Olive Branch’s offense, but it is much more complex.
“I’m learning it every day,” Cowan said. “Hopefully, if I can get it in my head, I can come in and play. It’s way different because you have to read defenses.”
D’Arthur Cowan glance POSITION Receiver SCHOOL Olive Branch, Miss.
HEIGHT 6-3 WEIGHT 170 pounds 40-YARD DASH 4.56 seconds NOTEWORTHY Caught 63 passes for 1,255 yards and 15 touchdowns and helped the Conquistadors win the Class 6A state championship as a senior. ... Returned two punts for touchdowns. ... Averaged 16 points per game in basketball, anchored the 400- and 800-meter relay teams to state titles and finished third in the high jump. ... Caught 31 passes for 658 yards and 9 touchdowns as a junior.
Sports, Pages 19 on 06/27/2012