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Rico Dowdle

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Rico Sharod Dowdle Jr. (born June 14, 1998) is an American football running back for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Carolina.

Rico Dowdle
refer to caption
Dowdle with South Carolina in 2019
No. 23 – Dallas Cowboys
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1998-06-14) June 14, 1998 (age 26)
Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:A.C. Reynolds
(Asheville, North Carolina)
College:South Carolina
Undrafted:2020
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Games played:36
Rushing attempts:96
Rushing yards:385
Rushing touchdowns:2
Receiving yards:144
Receiving touchdowns:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early years

Dowdle attended A.C. Reynolds High School. As a senior, he was switched from running back to quarterback, leading the team to an 11-2 overall record and 6-0 in their conference. He had 247 carries for 2,545 yards and 51 rushing touchdowns. He also passed for 1,434 yards, 11 touchdowns, 4 interceptions and had a 55-yard touchdown reception. His 63 total touchdowns was a WNC single-season record. He received All-WNC Player of the Year, Parade All-American and All-state honors.[1]

He was a three-star recruit coming out of high school and committed to play football at the University of South Carolina.[2][3]

College career

As a freshman, he had offseason surgery to recover from a sports hernia and was forced to miss the first 4 contests. He appeared in 9 games with 7 starts. He led the team with 133 carries for 764 yards (5.7-yard avg.) and 6 rushing touchdowns. He also had 15 receptions for 55 yards and one receiving touchdown. He had 27 carries for 149 yards, one rushing touchdown, 3 receptions for 20 yards and one receiving touchdown against the University of Missouri. He made 21 carries for 226 yards (sixth in school history) and 2 rushing touchdowns against Western Carolina University.

As a sophomore, he was named the starter at running back and appeared in 8 games with 4 starts. He registered 66 carries for 251 yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 11 receptions for 128 yards and one receiving touchdown. He broke his leg in the seventh game against the University of Tennessee and was forced to miss the final five contests of the regular season. He returned to play in the 2018 Outback Bowl, collecting 6 carries for 45 yards, one rushing touchdown and 3 receptions for 32 yards.

As a junior, he appeared in 12 games, leading the team with 123 carries for 654 yards and 4 rushing touchdowns. He also had 14 receptions for 133 yards and one receiving touchdown. He suffered a left ankle injury in the first carry against the University of Mississippi and did not return. He was limited in the next 2 contests. He had 20 carries for 112 yards and one touchdown against Vanderbilt University. He made 14 carries for 140 yards and one touchdown against the University of Tennessee.

As a senior, he was limited in the off season with a groin injury. He was part of a platoon at the running back position with Tavien Feaster. He rushed at nearly six yards per attempt during the first 6 contests of the season, until suffering a right knee injury against the University of Florida, which forced him to miss the next 2 contests. He was second on the team with 108 carries for 498 yards and 4 rushing touchdowns.

Dowdle finished 15th on the school's All-time rushing list, totaling 2,167 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in 39 games. He compiled eight 100-yard rushing games, including a career-best 226-yard contest.[4] Dowdle played in the 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl, rushing for fifty yards.[5]

College statistics

Rushing Receiving
Season Team GP Att Yds Avg TD Rec Yds Avg TD
2016 South Carolina 9 133 764 5.7 6 15 55 3.7 1
2017 South Carolina 8 66 251 3.8 2 11 128 11.6 1
2018 South Carolina 12 123 654 5.3 4 14 133 9.5 1
2019 South Carolina 10 106 498 4.7 4 22 167 7.6 0
Totals 39 428 2,167 4.9 16 62 483 8.1 3

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split Vertical jump Broad jump
5 ft 11+1⁄4 in
(1.81 m) 		213 lb
(97 kg) 		31+3⁄8 in
(0.80 m) 		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		 4.54 s 1.62 s 2.68 s 38.0 in
(0.97 m)		 10 ft 7 in
(3.23 m)
All values from NFL Combine[6][7]

Dowdle was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2020 NFL Draft on April 27.[8] He was one of ten rookies to make the Cowboys final roster, as the third string running back behind Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard.[9][10] He appeared in 15 games, tallying 4 kickoff returns for 152 yards (38-yard avg.), 3 special teams tackles and 7 carries for 24 yards.

In 2021, he suffered a hip injury in the third preseason game against the Houston Texans. On August 25, Dowdle was placed on injured reserve.[11]

In 2022, he appeared in 5 games playing on special teams, making one tackle, before suffering an ankle injury. On October 15, Dowdle was placed on injured reserve.[12]

In Week 11 of the 2023 season, Dowdle rushed 12 times for 79 yards and a touchdown during a win over the New York Giants.[13]

Professional statistics

Legend
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Kickoff return Fumbles
GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2020 DAL 15 0 7 24 3.4 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 152 38.0 64 0 0 0
2021 DAL Did not play due to injury
2022 DAL 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 0 0
2023 DAL 16 0 89 361 4.1 21 2 17 144 8.5 32 2 6 86 14.3 31 0 0 0
Career 33 0 82 331 3.8 21 2 12 82 6.9 17 2 9 237 27.5 64 0 0 0

Postseason

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving Kickoff return Fumbles
GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2023 DAL 1 0 2 11 5.5 9 0 2 14 7.0 10 0 - - - - - 0 0
Career 1 0 2 11 5.5 9 0 2 14 7.0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

References

  1. ^ "Rico Dowdle: Under-the-radar RB could be crown jewel of USC's class". The State. February 3, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  2. ^ "Rico Dowdle, 2016 All-purpose back - Rivals.com". n.rivals.com. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  3. ^ "NC running back Rico Dowdle commits to Gamecocks". The State. January 8, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  4. ^ "Western Carolina at South Carolina Box Score, November 19, 2016". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  5. ^ Chiari, Mike. "Benny LeMay Wins Offensive MVP as East Beats West 31–27 in 2020 Shrine Bowl". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  6. ^ "Rico Dowdle Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  7. ^ "2020 Draft Scout Rico Dowdle, South Carolina NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  8. ^ Thompson, David (April 26, 2020). "Former Reynolds standout Rico Dowdle finds NFL home". Asheville Citizen Times. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  9. ^ Buckley, Clint (September 6, 2020). "The 10 Dallas Cowboys rookies on the 53-man roster". 247Sports. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  10. ^ Thompson, David (September 8, 2020). "Former Reynolds standout Rico Dowdle makes NFL roster". The Asheville Citizen Times. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  11. ^ Williams, Charean (August 25, 2021). "Cowboys place Rico Dowdle on IR as Israel Mukuamu returns from COVID list". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  12. ^ "Cowboys move 2 to IR, add RB to 54-man roster vs Eagles for Week 6". Cowboys Wire. USA Today. October 15, 2022.
  13. ^ 'Beautiful' Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle 'Runs So Dang Angry!' - Dallas Coach McCarthy
 
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