The New York Jets put two Auburn alumni on the field during five games in the 2024 season. Linebacker Jamien Sherwood collected an NFL-best 98 solo tackles while playing in all 17 games for the Jets. In five of those games, Anders Carlson served as New York’s kicker.

This season, Sherwood could have an Auburn alumnus lining up right in front of him. In March, the Jets signed defensive tackle Byron Cowart in free agency.

“We have another kid from Auburn, B.C., so, you know, that’s exciting,” Sherwood said on Thursday.

Cowart and Sherwood did not play together for the Tigers.

Cowart played at Auburn in 2015 and 2016 before being granted his release early in the 2017 season. Cowart cited his lack of playing time and the health of his mother as the reasons he sought to leave the Tigers. He played at Maryland in the 2018 season. Cowart joined the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Sherwood played at Auburn in the 2018, 2019 and 2020 seasons before joining the Jets in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

“I actually never met him until he got to the team,” Sherwood said. “He’s a little bit older than me. But all I can say is he’s a man amongst boys. You know, when he comes out to the practice field, his presence is felt. And I admire the way he works. I admire his leadership as well. And I’m just excited for him.

“Having the chance to play with somebody who went to Auburn, the same school as me, means something to me. It makes it seem like I made a good choice in going to that school. So, again, I’m excited for him. He’s a great dude, great guy, and I’m glad he’s on our team.”

Sherwood could have been a free agent this offseason, too. Instead, he signed a three-year, $45 million contract extension with the Jets.

“I just say it’s just been a blessing,” Sherwood said. “Coming from college, being a safety, coming to the NFL, coming to the Jets organization, getting transitioned to linebacker, you don’t know what’s going to happen. Being able to accomplish something as an extension, it’s just been a blessing.

“But none of that would have been possible without the people that I’ve been around these last few years. Obviously, give all my credit to (linebackers) C.J. (Mosley), Quincy (Williams), my last coaching staff — Coach (Robert) Saleh, Brick (defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich), Rudy (linebackers coach Mike Rutenberg) — all for them just for believing in me and giving me an opportunity.

“Tearing my Achilles my rookie year, them still believing in me and giving me a chance just because they saw my determination and how I handled the process of rehab and stuff like that. Getting my chance each year. My second year, maybe 20 plays total. Third year, moving into the little Sam linebacker spot and ultimately getting my chance to show what I can do. So again, it’s just all been a blessing.”

Injuries limited Mosley to four games in 2024, opening a spot in the lineup for Sherwood. When New York signed Sherwood to an extension, the Jets released Mosley, a former Alabama All-American.

“I love C.J.,” Sherwood said. “He doesn’t live too far. You know, we always get our hair done together, so whenever the hair lady comes to town, we get our hair done. I actually just texted him just to check up on him because, again, without him, this process for me would not be possible. From the day I got here, he just poured into us. He let us know everything, and I miss having him in the room. There’s definitely a hole in the wall without him.

“But, again, I check up on him just to make sure everything’s good with him. Again, he’s my brother from another mother, and, you know, I love him.”

The Jets haven’t been to the playoffs since 2010 and posted a 5-12 record in 2024. Former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is preparing for his first season as New York’s coach.

“The first time we got our chance to speak to each other, I felt like we hit it off,” Sherwood said. “The connection was there. Same thing with our new linebacker coach, our new defense coordinator, and all the other coaches. But again, it’s just about buying in. And you can’t do that unless you get everybody around you to change the culture, to create a standard. Everybody has to agree with it. It can’t just be me. It can’t just be them.

“So by me signing that extension, they believed in me. One thing they asked of me to do is become a leader and help bring people along, help people buy in. So that’s what I’ve been trying to do this whole OTAs, this whole camp, and I feel like I’ve done a good enough job at it. Obviously, we’ve still got a ways to go, each from the free agency to the draft, mini-camp, all that. It’s just a process, building blocks and stuff, but everything’s coming together.”

The Jets concluded their offseason program on Thursday. New York has not announced its schedule for training camp, which will start late next month. The Jets start their three-game preseason schedule on Aug. 9 against the Green Bay Packers. The regular season will kick off on Sept. 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I’ll say for me, I believe in the process,” Sherwood said. “Obviously, I can’t tell you what tomorrow’s going to bring or what it’s going to look like. But what we’ve been able to put on tape, what we’ve been able to put together and create in this new foundation, to me, it looks good. I believe in all my teammates. I believe in myself. And again, I believe in our coaches. So I think we’re going to put together a great game plan every week to go out there and compete and do what we have to do.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.