Dante Dowdell looked like Kentucky's RB1 in spring showcase

Kentucky has consistently produced All-SEC rushers and NFL tailbacks under head coach Mark Stoops. The Wildcats have a run-first offensive philosophy and typically want a single tailback to emerge as the feature back. The Cats did not have that this year.

Do they have it in 2025?

Kentucky landed Nebraska transfer Dante Dowdell this offseason and will be the third school for the former blue-chip recruit. The true junior brought 704 career rushing yards to Lexington after being a sophomore starter in the Big Ten. However, it was unsure if Dowdell would be a feature back or a member of a committee aproach.

That likely has not been determined yet but the spring showcase told us that the transfer is currently Kentucky’s RB1. The 227-pound tailback got most of the work with the first unit, scored a goal-to-go touchdown, and created some explosive plays. But Dowdell was mostly added to the team for what he can do in short-yardage.

KSR+ Column: Dante Dowdell could immediately upgrade Kentucky’s short-yardage offense

Dante Dowdell was college football’s best short-yardage tailback last season. However, that is hard to gauge in a scrimmage where UK is not tackling to ground. Stoops said that practice results in live tackling periods have the program feeling confident in Dowdell’s ability.

“When we had a live scrimmage you were able to see it. There was segments in practice, as I mentioned, goalline or short-yardage plays when we were going live in practice. You saw it then as well. Where you’re converting those third-and-twos, where you’re getting a profile tackle and you get a tough yard or two. We saw that.”

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Dante Dowdell recorded a 88.9 percent success rate on 27 third-and-short carries in 2024. Kentucky had massive issues in third-and-short and goal-to-go offense all last season. The hope is that Dowdell can help fix those problems but the running game is more than one player.

“I’ve seen growth in the run game all spring. We did do probably a 100-play scrimmage where it was completely live and you got to see that. We got to see that. We definitely made some strides and need to continue to work on that,” Stoops explained. “You know and I know that we have to have that physicality and the ability to run the ball to set up the play actions and not be in predictable second-and-long, third-and-long, and all those things.”

“We’ve got to continue to get better at the line of scrimmage and grow I think. We definitely have some bodies to work with on the offensive line and defensive line. We’ve gotta continue to maintain that and continue to get better.”

Kentucky wants to be a run-first offense. To do that, the Wildcats must be able to convert third downs and extend drives on the ground. Dante Dowdell will play a big role in that this season. The junior will be a big part of the offensive attack this season.

KSR+ Scouting Notebook: Dante Dowdell

The former blue-chip recruit started his career at Oregon before moving to Nebraska in 2024. The Mississippi native led the Huskers in rushing yards (614) and scored 12 red zone touchdowns. Dowdell’s third-and-short conversion rate (88.9%) was the best mark in the country.

Dowdell is physical downhill runner who is at his best in an inside zone or gap-heavy run game. The tailback shows immediate acceleration once putting his foot in the dirt and explodes through the hole. Is a contact seeker in open space without much make you miss shown once past the first line of defense. Dowdell is not a great tackle breaker yet but shows good pad level and leg drive to move piles.

A true power back at this stage of his development that can help an offense upgrade its efficiency.

Read scouting write-ups on all of Kentucky’s transfer additions at KSR+.