Nebraska transfer Dante Dowdell locks in visit with Kentucky

by:Adam Luckett•about 7 hours•

adamluckettksr

Dante Dowdell Nebraska-USC — Nov 16, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Dante Dowdell (23) jumps over Southern California Trojans safety Zion Branch (8) during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. (Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

Kentucky saw a running back with a visit scheduled for this weekend come off the board when ULM transfer Ahmad Hardy committed during his visit to Missouri. The All-Sun Belt performer was one of the best available players in the portal. The Wildcats are now pivoting.

Nebraska tailback Dante Dowdell entered the transfer portal on Monday. Kentucky is now set to get the first visit from the former top-200 recruit with two years of eligibility remaining. On3’s Steve Wiltfong reported on Wednesday night that Dowdell is considering Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, and Michigan. The Cats will get the first visit.

Dante Dowdell will be in Lexington on Thursday for a two-day official visit.

The Big Ten transfer started his career at Oregon before rushing for 614 yards and 12 touchdowns as a true sophomore in 2024. Dante Dowdell led the Huskers in rushing attempts, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns as a sophomore. Only three Big Ten tailbacks rushed for more touchdowns than Dowdell last season.

Top 10

View All

Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning

Kentucky currently only has three scholarship tailbacks on the roster with Jamarion Wilcox, Jason Patterson, and Tovani Mizell all scheduled to return. This remains a possession of need for the program heading into Day 11 of the winter transfer portal window.

Kentucky Football Transfer Portal Tracker

The transfer portal is open for business and so far we know of 19 scholarship players who will be seeking out greener pastures this offseason.

DL Keeshawn Silver
DB Avery Stuart
LB Jayvant Brown
LS Walker Himebauch
TE Tanner Lemaster
TE Khamari Anderson
TE Jordan Dingle (Committed to South Carolina on Dec. 18)
OL Courtland Ford (Committed to UCLA on Dec. 17)
OL Ben Christman
OL Dylan Ray
DL Tommy Ziesmer (Committed to EKU on Dec. 15)
WR Dane Key
WR Barion Brown (Committed to LSU on Dec. 14)
WR Anthony Brown-Stephens
WR Brandon White
EDGE Tyreese Fearbry
EDGE Noah Matthews
EDGE Caleb Redd
RB Chip Trayanum
QB Gavin Wimsatt

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. Keep closer tabs on the Cats with our staff-only sticky thread on KSBoard, which will have updates on departures and targets throughout the offseason. Not a KSR+ member? Try it out today.