Florida State University Athletics
Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2011
Sam Cowart came to Florida State after a great career at Mandarin High in Jacksonville and earned a place in the Seminole Hall of Fame with his great linebacker play.
Cowart was a finalist for both the Butkus and Bronko Nagurski awards as a senior in 1997 leading the Seminoles with 116 tackles. He was a Consensus All-American and was Football News' National Defensive Player of the Year.
Cowart's spectacular senior year was even more impressive considering he overcame reconstructive knee surgery following the 1995 season. He sat out 1996 and earned the ACC's Brian Piccolo Award as a senior for overcoming hardship.
Cowart led a '97 FSU defense that set a school record after allowing an average of just 1.5 yards per rush. His defense allowed an average of only 51.9 rushing yards a game and gave up just 571 yards on the ground all season.
Cowart also led FSU in tackles as a junior in 1995 with 115 and totaled 338 tackles over his career.
The Buffalo Bills selected Cowart in the second round of the 1998 Draft and he played eight years in the NFL. He earned All-Pro honors with the Bills in 2000 and also played for the NY Jets (2002-04) and Minnesota Vikings (2005).
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