He attended Allen D. Nease Senior High School in Ponte Vedra, Florida and was a student and a letterman in football, wrestling, and track & field.

Nowland is married to his college girlfriend Hillary, who now works for Auburn.

[1] Nowland was in the Walt Disney film "The Game Plan" starring Dewayne "The Rock" Johnson.

[citation needed] He entered the National Football League by signing as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers in 2003.

Waived by the 49ers in August of that year, he was signed to the Washington Redskins' practice squad where he stayed through the 2004 season.