Auburn's Byron Cowart on 'accelerated plan' to play early and often in 2015

AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn defensive line coach Rodney Garner confirmed Friday that the debate isn't whether or where Byron Cowart will play starting this season but how much. The nation's best defensive end recruit from Seffner, Fla., came to campus with the normal amount of hype and anticipation expected from a five-star prospect specifically recruited by Tigers defensive coordinator Will Muschamp.

Garner said Friday, when he met with the media for the first time this fall, Cowart has gone from watching the veterans early in preseason camp to being on was an "accelerated plan" to see playing time in his freshman season.

"He's handling everything well," Garner said. "He's just to embrace the process and understand he is going to be a good player. He's going to help him."

Muschamp has said Cowart has been working mostly at defensive end and the versatile Buck position during preseason camp. The 277-pound defensive lineman has already impressed coaches and teammates with this physical tools but Garner said the freshman has "his best practice" Thursday and hopes that momentum can carry into the team's second preseason scrimmage today.

This story was originally published August 14, 2015 at 11:03 PM with the headline "Auburn's Byron Cowart on 'accelerated plan' to play early and often in 2015 ."