Film Room: Dante Dowdell

Kentucky had some production to replace at tailback heading into 2025. The expectation was for this program to be a potentially big shopper at the position in the transfer portal. After being linked to All-Sun Belt tailback Ahmad Hardy, the Wildcats made a quick pivot to Nebraska transfer Dante Dowdell.

That recruitment did not last long.

The former blue-chip recruit — who spent one season at Oregon in 2023 before spending just one season at Nebraska in 2024 — entered the portal on Dec. 16, locked in a visit with Kentucky two days later, and committed to the Wildcats four days later.

Dante Dowdell is expected to play a big role in a Kentucky offense that wants to be run-first. A platoon with returnee Jamarion Wilcox feels very likely. What will the two-time transfer with two years of eligibility remaining bring to Bush Hamdan‘s offense? KSR’s Film Room is taking a closer look at the tape.

The Nebraska transfer is a physical downhill runner who should help improve Kentucky’s efficiency.

One cut and go

Dante Dowdell played in a pro-style scheme at Nebraska that inserted more spread concepts when Dana Holgorsen took over play-calling in November. The tailback was asked to be a downhill rusher on both inside zone and gap schemes. There was not much wiggle shown in the open field, but this was a back who was a one cut runner who could generate acceleration through the hole.

Dowdell was a true weapon in short-yardage situations.

Dante Dowdell quickly gets north/south on gap scheme runs (first clip) and hits the play right behind his blocks. When creases are made, the tailback can create explosive plays. On downhill zone concepts, Dowdell typically does a good job of reading blocks (second clip) and gets up to speed quickly going through the hole. The tailback can be a safety magnet in the open field (third clip), but cornerbacks and nickels did have some difficulty tackling him in the box. As the season went on, Dowdell started to run through tackles with more efficiency (fourth clip), and was highly successful in the low red zone. The 225-pound back owned some impressive acceleration (fifth clip) that showed up when holes were created.

The tailback does a good job of executing the run call and his burst through the hole is the most impressive part of his game. The tackle-breaking is inefficient, but this is a north/south runner who can help keep an offense ahead of the chains (47% success rate, 0.11 EPA/rush).

Potential efficiency weapon

Dante Dowdell could be classified as a true power back at this stage of his development that can help an offense upgrade its efficiency. Dowdell can grind out yards against heavy boxes and consistently gains what is blocked. The transfer is not an splash play generator (11.9% explosive run rate at Nebraska) but can play a big role in extending drives and finishing possessions with points in the red zone.

Kentucky struggled in third-and-short and in goal-to-go situations. Dowdell thrived in those situations. That is the biggest area he can give the Wildcats an upgrade. The two-time transfer likely won’t be a big play back for the offense, but he will give the unit some dependability and can help keep possessions alive with his short-yardage proficiency.

Will we see the goal line leap return to Kroger Field?

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