He attended Auburn University and took part in the 2009 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships in Port-of-Spain, where he won a gold medal over 100 metres in 10.03 seconds, which as of April 2017[update] is the sixth-fastest ever run by a junior athlete.

[1] Rowland attended Paul M. Dorman High School in Roebuck, South Carolina, where he was a two-time South Carolina state champion in the 100 and 200 metres and broke a 17-year-old state record in the 100 metres, previously held by Stephen Davis of Spartanburg High School.

In his first year at Auburn, Rowland finished third in the 200 meters at the 2009 NCAA Championships, clocking a time of 20.82 in the finals into a headwind while running from lane 1.

In the 100 meters, his time in the finals of 10.13 seconds ranks fourth best in Auburn history.

[1] He also helped the United States 4×100 metres relay squad to a gold medal.