Blocking focus for Cowan

Making big plays on offense was the norm for Olive Branch (Miss.) receiver D'Arthur Cowan as he collected 31 catches for 658 yards and eight touchdowns last fall. Yet this spring and eying his senior season, the 6-foot-2 and 180-pound Cowan was more focused on another aspect of his game.

"We had a great spring game and we did very well against a couple of Memphis teams (East and Ridgeway High School)," said Cowan. "I had a couple of good catches and I also had a couple of key blocks. We were just worried about winning this game and doing what it took to win. This spring I really focused on my blocking and I feel I got a lot better there."

Also during spring practice, Cowan collected another offer to go along with previous offers from Mississippi State, Arkansas, Memphis and Arkansas State.

"I would say about 11 or 12 schools were here this spring and I can't remember all of them," said Cowan. "But Mississippi State, Arkansas and Arkansas State and some others were here. I also picked up an offer not long ago from Louisiana Tech and it's always great to get more offers."

For much of his recruitment, the pair of SEC programs that have offered Cowan have been atop his favorites' list. That has not changed either, of late.

"Mississippi State and Arkansas are still on top and I am just weighing my options," said Cowan. "With Mississippi State, I like their coaches and what they will have in the future. I love the discipline and character they have in the program, too.

"And with Arkansas, it is about the same things with them. I like the direction of their program and if I had to choose today, it would be a tough decision."

But making that choice is something Cowan doesn't plan to do until he has several games under his belt during his senior campaign.

"I will probably make my decision mid-way through my senior season," said Cowan. "I just want to see how recruiting goes up to that point and how some of these teams do."

And between now and then, Cowan is planning a busy summer splitting his time between his football and basketball team duties.

"My schedule is going to be pretty tight this summer," said Cowan. "We have our high school basketball league and then we have a lot of 7-on-7 camps. I am going to one-day camps at Mississippi State and Arkansas and I am sure there will be other camps I go to."