James Cowser

James Cowser is a collegiate football coach and retired American football linebacker. He signed with the Oakland Raiders after going undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft.

On September 3, 2016, he was waived/injured by the Raiders and placed on injured reserve. On September 10, he was released from the Raiders' injured reserve. He was signed to the practice squad on October 4, 2016. He was then promoted to the active roster on November 26, 2016. On September 1, 2018, Cowser was waived by the Raiders. He was re-signed to the practice squad on October 22, 2018, and then promoted to the active roster on October 30, 2018. He was waived on November 5, 2018, and was re-signed to the practice squad. He was waived on November 13, 2018 and later re-signed to the practice squad. Cowser signed a reserve/future contract with the Raiders on January 1, 2019. He was waived during final roster cuts on August 30, 2019.

With the Raiders, he appeared in 22 career games with the Raiders and recorded 32 tackles with 21 solo tackles. He also had one quarterback sack and one forced fumble. 

Cowser is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and did an internship in NFL’s China office in Shanghai.

Cowser joined the Weber State University coaching staff in February 2021 and as a defensive assistant coach, he works primarily with the defensive ends.

Cowser was born on September 13, 1990, in Kaysville, Utah. He played football for Southern Utah University. He twice earned All-America honors and was named the Big Sky Conference Defensive MVP as a senior in 2015. He finished his career as the NCAA FCS all-time leader in career sacks and tackles for loss and now ranks second in both categories. He totaled 42.5 career sacks and 80 career tackles for loss in his 48 games with the Thunderbirds. He also holds the conference record for tackles for loss in a season with 28.5 in 2014. He was also part of the SUU team that won the Big Sky title in 2015. 

Cowser is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as a missionary for the Church in Hong Kong and Macau.