Delbert Cowsette

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1977)}} {{good article}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | image = | caption = | current_team = Howard Bison | position = [[Defensive line coach]] | career_position = dt | number =  | career_number = 91, 97, 93 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|9|3}} | birth_place = [[Cleveland, Ohio]], U.S. | death_date = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 1 | weight_lbs = 290 | draftyear = 2000 | draftround = 7 | draftpick = 216 | high_school = [[Cleveland Central Catholic High School|Cleveland Central Catholic]] | college = [[Maryland Terrapins football|Maryland]] (1995–1999) | teams = * [[Washington Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|2000}})* * [[Indianapolis Colts]] ({{NFL Year|2000}})* * Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2000}}–{{NFL Year|2002}}) * [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] ({{NFL Year|2004}})* * [[New York Giants]] ({{NFL Year|2004}})* * Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2005}})* * → [[Cologne Centurions (NFL Europe)|Cologne Centurions]] ([[2005 NFL Europe season|2005]]) * [[Utah Blaze]] ({{AFL Year|2006}})* * [[Austin Wranglers]] ({{AFL Year|2006}})* * [[New York Dragons]] ({{AFL Year|2006}}) * [[Chicago Bears]] ({{NFL Year|2006}}) * New York Dragons ({{AFL Year|2007}}) * [[Philadelphia Soul]] ({{AFL Year|2007}}) * [[New Orleans VooDoo]] ({{AFL Year|2008}}) | pastcoaching = * [[Maryland Terrapins football|Maryland]] (2007) Assistant strength and conditioning coach * Maryland (2008–2009) Assistant defensive line coach * [[Hampton Pirates football|Hampton]] (2010) Defensive line coach * [[Virginia Destroyers]] (2011) Assistant defensive line coach * Hampton (2012–2013) Defensive line coach * [[Albany Great Danes football|Albany]] (2014–2018) Defensive line coach * Maryland (2019) Defensive line coach * [[Air Force Falcons football|Air Force]] (2020–2021) Assistant defensive line coach * [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]] (2023) Defensive line coach * [[Howard Bison football|Howard]] (2024–present) Defensive line coach | statlabel1 = [[Tackle (football move)|Tackles]] | statvalue1 = 25 | statlabel2 = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]] | statvalue2 = 2 | aflstatlabel1 = [[Tackle (football move)|Tackles]] | aflstatvalue1 = 26.5 | aflstatlabel2 = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]] | aflstatvalue2 = 6.0 | aflstatlabel3 = Forced [[fumbles]] | aflstatvalue3 = 3 | highlights = *[[United Football League (2009–2012)|UFL]] champion ([[2011 UFL championship game|2011]]) * First-team All-[[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] ([[1999 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team|1999]]) |pfr=CowsDe20 | afl = 4888 }}

'''Delbert Ray Cowsette''' (born September 3, 1977) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] [[defensive tackle]] who played in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) and [[Arena Football League]] (AFL). He is currently the defensive line coach for the [[Howard Bison football|Howard Bison]].

Cowsette was selected by the [[Washington Redskins]] in the seventh round of the [[2000 NFL draft]] after playing [[college football]] for the [[Maryland Terrapins football|Maryland Terrapins]]. He played 32 games for the Redskins from 2001 to 2002. Cowsette was also a member of the [[Indianapolis Colts]], [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]], [[New York Giants]], and [[Chicago Bears]] of the NFL but did not appear in any games for any of those teams. He played for the [[Cologne Centurions (NFL Europe)|Cologne Centurions]] of [[NFL Europe]] in 2005, and the [[New York Dragons]] and [[Philadelphia Soul]] of the AFL from 2006 to 2007.

He has served over 15 years as a college and professional defensive line coach.

==Early life== Delbert Ray Cowsette was born on September 3, 1977, in [[Cleveland, Ohio]].<ref name="Pfr"/> He attended [[Cleveland Central Catholic High School]] in Cleveland.<ref name="Pfa"/> He recorded 52 [[Tackle (football move)|tackles]], eight [[Quarterback sack|sacks]] and five forced [[fumbles]] his senior year, earning all-state and All-Midwest honors.<ref name="Bio">{{cite web | url=https://umterps.com/news/2013/4/9/208127243 | title=Player Bio: Delbert Cowsette :: Football | website=UMTerps.com |publisher=[[University of Maryland]] | accessdate=6 October 2024}}</ref> Cowsette also participated in wrestling in high school and was a four-year [[letterman (sports)|letterman]]. He won the heavyweight state title in wrestling. He graduated from Central Catholic in 1995.<ref name="Bio"/>

==College career== Cowsette played [[college football]] for the [[Maryland Terrapins football|Maryland Terrapins]] of the [[University of Maryland, College Park]] from 1996 to 1999 and was a four-year letterman.<ref name="Pfa"/> He [[redshirted]] in 1995.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://umterps.com/news/1999/8/21/207284281 | title=Delbert Cowsette Trying to Rekindle Old Magic | website=UMTerps.com |publisher=[[University of Maryland]] | date=August 21, 1999 | accessdate=6 October 2024 | author=Simpkinson, Pete}}</ref> He played in all 11 games, starting three, his freshman year in 1996, accumulating 40 tackles, two sacks, and one fumble recovery that he returned 54 yards for a [[touchdown]].<ref name="Bio"/> Cowsette started all 11 games at [[defensive tackle]] during the 1997 season, totaling 63 tackles and two sacks. He started all 11 games for the second consecutive season in 1998 and made 96 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and one [[pass breakup]], earning honorable mention All-[[Atlantic Coast Conference]] (ACC) honors.<ref name="Bio"/> He was a [[team captain]] his senior year in 1999 as he started 11 games for the third straight year while recording 81 tackles and six sacks, garnering first-team All-ACC recognition.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://godeacs.com/news/1999/12/1/Deacs_Place_Four_On_All_ACC_Football_Team | title=Deacs Place Four On All-ACC Football Team | website=GoDeacs.com |publisher=[[Wake Forest University]] | date=December 1, 1999 | accessdate=6 October 2024}}</ref><ref name="Bio"/> Cowsette played in all 44 games, starting 36, for the Terrapins during his college career and made 280 tackles.<ref name="Bio"/> He graduated with a bachelor's degree in geography.<ref name="Bio"/><ref name="Bison"/>

==Professional career== Cowsette was selected by the [[Washington Redskins]] in the seventh round, with the 216th overall pick, of the [[2000 NFL draft]].<ref name="Pfr">{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CowsDe20.htm | title=Delbert Cowsette | publisher=[[Pro Football Reference]] | accessdate=6 October 2024}}</ref> He officially signed with the team on May 18. He was [[Waivers (NFL)|waived]] on August 27 and signed to the team's [[practice squad]] the next day.<ref name="transactions"/> Cowsette was waived by the Redskins on November 13, 2000.<ref name="transactions">{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/c/cows00400.html | title=Delbert Cowsette NFL Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=6 October 2024}}</ref>

He was signed to the practice squad of the [[Indianapolis Colts]] on December 7, 2000.<ref name="transactions"/>

On December 19, 2000, he was signed by the Redskins off of the Colts' practice squad.<ref name="transactions"/> Cowsette played in all 16 games for the Redskins in 2001, recording eight solo tackles, and two assisted tackles.<ref name="Pfr"/> During the 2002 preseason, Cowsette was fined $10,000 for a hit on [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] quarterback [[Charlie Batch]] that caused a chin laceration.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch/162551525/ | title=In short time, Cowsette reduced long odds | work=[[Richmond Times-Dispatch]] | date=August 26, 2002 | accessdate=8 January 2025 | author=Woody, Paul}}</ref> Cowsette appeared in all 16 games for the second straight season in 2002, totaling 11 solo tackles, four assisted tackles, and two sacks.<ref name="Pfr"/> He was waived by the Redskins on August 31, 2003.<ref name="Pfr"/>

Cowsette signed a reserve/future contract with the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] on January 5, 2004. He was waived on May 13, 2004.<ref name="Pfr"/>

He was signed by the [[New York Giants]] on July 30, 2004. He was waived by the Giants on August 31, 2004.<ref name="Pfr"/>

Cowsette signed another reserve/future contract with the Buccaneers on January 19, 2005.<ref name="Pfr"/> He was allocated to [[NFL Europe]] to play for the [[Cologne Centurions (NFL Europe)|Cologne Centurions]]. He played in all 10 games, starting nine, for the Centurions during the [[2005 NFL Europe season]], posting 18 tackles, three sacks, and one pass breakup.<ref name="Pfa"/> Cowsette was waived by the Buccaneers on September 3, 2005.<ref name="Pfr"/>

In late September 2005, he was selected by the [[Utah Blaze]] of the [[Arena Football League]] (AFL) in the expansion draft.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.deseret.com/2005/9/27/19914231/utah-blaze-expansion-draft-selections/ | title=Utah Blaze expansion draft selections | work=[[Deseret News]] | date=September 27, 2005 | accessdate=7 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/utahutes/ci_3095032 | title=Arena Football League: Former Aggie LB Younger to play for Blaze | work=[[The Salt Lake Tribune]] | date=October 7, 2005 | accessdate=6 October 2024}}</ref> On October 5, 2005, he was traded to the [[Austin Wranglers]] for [[Bryan Henderson]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&type=old&team=112 | title=Historical Team Transactions | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=6 October 2024}}</ref> On November 1, 2005, Cowsette and Richard McCleskey were traded to the [[New York Dragons]] for [[Josh White (American football)|Josh White]].<ref name="Dragons">{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&type=old&team=72#google_vignet104 | title=Historical Team Transactions | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=6 October 2024}}</ref> Cowsette played in all 16 games for the Dragons in 2006, accumulating nine solo tackles, 13 assisted tackles, five sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two pass breakups while also catching two passes for seven yards.<ref name="Pfa">{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/c/cows00400.html | title=Delbert Cowsette | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=6 October 2024}}</ref><ref name="Af">{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/Delbert_Cowsette-4888/ | title=Delbert Cowsette | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=6 October 2024}}</ref> He was named to the AFL All-Rookie team as an offensive/defensive lineman.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/?page=players&player=4888&pageview=bio#google_vignette | title=Delbert Cowsette | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=6 October 2024}}</ref>

He was signed by the [[Chicago Bears]] on August 10, 2006. He was waived on September 1, but later re-signed on December 20 before being waived again on December 25, 2006.<ref name="Pfr"/>

Cowsette re-signed with the Dragons on October 11, 2006. He was placed on refused to report on February 10, 2007, but was activated the next day.<ref name="Dragons"/> He appeared in six games during the 2007 season, recording three solo tackles, nine assisted tackles, and one sack.<ref name="Af"/><ref name="Pfa"/> Cowsette was waived on April 27, 2007.<ref name="Dragons"/>

He was claimed off waivers by the [[Philadelphia Soul]] on May 1, 2007.<ref name="Soul">{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&type=old&team=99 | title=Historical Team Transactions | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=6 October 2024}}</ref> He played in five games for the Soul in 2007, accumulating one solo tackle and five assisted tackles.<ref name="Af"/><ref name="Pfa"/> Cowsette was placed on [[injured reserve]] on June 19, 2007. He was waived on February 22, 2008.<ref name="Soul"/>

Cowsette signed with the [[New Orleans VooDoo]] of the AFL on March 10, 2008. He was waived on March 13, 2008.<ref name="voo">{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&type=old&team=66 | title=Historical Team Transactions | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=6 October 2024}}</ref>

==Coaching career== Cowsette began his coaching career as the assistant [[strength and conditioning coach]] for the Maryland Terrapins in 2007. He then served as the team's assistant defensive line coach from 2008 to 2009.<ref name="Coach">{{cite web | url=https://umterps.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/delbert-cowsette/1684 | title=Delbert Cowsette | website=UMTerps.com |publisher=[[University of Maryland]]| accessdate=6 October 2024}}</ref>

He was the defensive line coach for the [[Hampton Pirates football|Hampton Pirates]] of [[Hampton University]] in 2010, and the assistant defensive line coach of the [[Virginia Destroyers]] of the [[United Football League (2009–2012)|United Football League]] (UFL) in 2011.<ref name="Coach"/> The Destroyers won the UFL championship that season.<ref name="Coach"/> He returned as defensive line coach at Hampton from 2012 to 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://hamptonpirates.com/news/2013/4/5/FB_0405132914 | title=ROSE ANNOUNCES NEW FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF | website=HamptonPirates.com |publisher=[[Hampton University]] | accessdate=7 October 2024}}</ref><ref name="Coach"/>

Cowsette then served as the defensive line coach for the [[Albany Great Danes football|Albany Great Danes]] of [[University at Albany, SUNY]] from 2014 to 2018, the defensive line coach at Maryland in 2019, and the assistant defensive line coach of the [[Air Force Falcons football|Air Force Falcons]] of the [[United States Air Force Academy]] from 2020 to 2021.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ualbanysports.com/staff-directory/delbert-cowsette/281 | title=Delbert Cowsette | website=UAlbanySports.com |publisher=[[University at Albany]]| accessdate=7 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.testudotimes.com/maryland-terps-football/2019/1/29/18202241/delbert-cowsette-defensive-line-coach-albany-mike-locksley-hire | title=Maryland football hires Delbert Cowsette as defensive line coach, per reports | website=TestudoTimes.com |publisher=[[SB Nation]]| date=Jan 29, 2019 | accessdate=7 October 2024 | author=Johnson, Lamar}}</ref><ref name="air">{{cite web | url=https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/del-cowsette/834 | title=Del Cowsette | website=GoAirForceFalcons.com|publisher=[[United States Air Force Academy]] | accessdate=7 October 2024}}</ref>

He rejoined the professional ranks in 2023 as the defensive line coach for the [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]] of the [[Canadian Football League]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cfl.ca/2023/02/07/riders-announce-coaching-football-ops-staff/ | title=RIDERS ANNOUNCE COACHING, FOOTBALL OPS STAFF | website=CFL.ca |publisher=[[Canadian Football League]]| date=February 7, 2023 | accessdate=7 October 2024}}</ref> He then became the defensive line coach for the [[Howard Bison football|Howard Bison]] of [[Howard University]] in 2024.<ref name="Bison">{{cite web | url=https://hubison.com/staff-directory/del-cowsette/337 | title=DEL COWSETTE | website=HUBison.com |publisher=[[Howard University]] | accessdate=7 October 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life== While at Maryland, Cowsette was a scholar-athlete in spring 1998 and was also a member of the school's student-athlete advisory council.<ref name="Bio"/> He is a co-founder of the Premiere Intermediate Football League, a youth football league.<ref name="Bison"/> He is also the owner of In Between the Lines, a non-profit youth organization.<ref name="Bison"/> Cowsette married Alena Cowsette and they had three children.<ref name="air"/>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cowsette, Delbert}} [[Category:1977 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]] [[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]] [[Category:American football defensive linemen]] [[Category:American football offensive linemen]] [[Category:Maryland Terrapins football players]] [[Category:Washington Redskins players]] [[Category:Indianapolis Colts players]] [[Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players]] [[Category:New York Giants players]] [[Category:Cologne Centurions (NFL Europe) players]] [[Category:Utah Blaze players]] [[Category:Austin Wranglers players]] [[Category:New York Dragons players]] [[Category:Chicago Bears players]] [[Category:Philadelphia Soul players]] [[Category:New Orleans VooDoo players]] [[Category:Players of American football from Cleveland]] [[Category:Maryland Terrapins football coaches]] [[Category:Hampton Pirates football coaches]] [[Category:Virginia Destroyers coaches]] [[Category:Albany Great Danes football coaches]] [[Category:Air Force Falcons football coaches]] [[Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders coaches]] [[Category:Howard Bison football coaches]] [[Category:Coaches of American football from Ohio]] [[Category:African-American coaches of American football]] [[Category:African-American coaches of Canadian football]] [[Category:American strength and conditioning coaches]]