Georgia 2024 WDE Lorenzo Cowan covers Kentucky decommitment and USC official
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Everything along the recruiting trail is fluid until a recruit’s pen hits paper on a National Letter of Intent. Locked in with Kentucky since Sept. 10, a quick relationship established with USC led to an official visit over the weekend for three-star defensive end Lorenzo Cowan (6-4, 220), and a decommitment from the Wildcats on Wednesday.
The teams actively recruiting Cowan were listed, “Kentucky, USC, USF and West Virginia as well.”
The weekend cross country trek from Savannah, Georgia, to Los Angeles to hang with the Trojans was detailed.
“It was really nice,” Cowan said. “They have all you can ask for. The people there are great. I had a great weekend. They treated me like family, and they treated my family like family. It was a great weekend. The academics there are great. They probably have the best psychology program I have seen. The connections they offer at USC are endless.”
Behind the scenes with the Trojans’ coaching staff was covered.
“I had a meeting with their coaches; coach (Lincoln) Riley, coach (Roy) Manning (OLB), and with their new defensive coordinator, coach (D’Anton) Lynn. Coach Lynn and I talked for a little bit about everything; we started a relationship. I love his approach to the game.
“I went to the Village; it is like a dorm. Under the dorm is a shopping center; that was really cool. I saw the campus and facilities. We went to really nice restaurants. Coach Riley showed me his home, he has a beautiful home. I got to kick it with Braylan Shelby.”
The Jenkins High School standout continued, “Coach Manning and I had been building a relationship over the phone; on the visit I got to meet him in person. We started talking and a few days later I was flying out for the visit. He understands me as a player. As a person, he let me know he is available for anything I need. That whole staff is that way.
“My host, Weston Zernechel (player personnel), we talked like we knew each other for years. The people there are great. Coach Riley and I talked for almost an hour; it felt so natural. It was not forced. Coach Riley is a great guy, a great guy to be around, humble, and so experienced with life. He has connections out of this world.
“Coach Lynn and I started building the relationship. I love the possibilities he can bring to me. So many guys on the staff are great. And the females; Annie Hanson (dir. football rec.), she is unbelievable. Anything we needed, she had before we had to ask. USC has a great staff overall. That was big for me and my family. I know I would be taken care of if I go there.”
There were no fingers pointed by Cowan when the ties were broken with the Wildcats.
“Kentucky itself as a program had nothing to do with my decommitment,” Cowan said. “I feel that I am meant to be at another place. I still talked to the staff even after I decommitment. I love coach (Chris) Collins; we are super tight. He has walked with me through my recruitment from start to finish. This was more of a decision my family and I made for the best interest of me. There is nothing about them doing me wrong or mistreating me; what we did we felt was best at the moment.”
With no other trips in the works, Cowan was asked about his recruiting plans going forward.
“I will commit soon,” Cowan shared.
*Click the link for the Sept. 10 RNG interview with Lorenzo Cowan.