Transfer Portal Bio Blast: Dante Dowdell

The winter transfer portal window officially opened last week. We’ve seen some heavy player movement and are expecting some more. Teams are working rapidly to get targets on campus for visits over the next few weeks to close these fast-paced recruitments.

ULM tailback transfer Ahmad Hardy was slated to get on campus for a visit on Thursday. That changed when the All-Sun Belt performer committed to Missouri on Wednesday night. But Kentucky is moving quickly to address the position.

Nebraska transfer Dante Dowdell emerged as a potential option earlier this week and officially locked in a visit with Kentucky on Wednesday. The former blue-chip recruit with 13 career touchdowns in 301 offensive snaps will be in Lexington on Thursday for a two-day official visit.

A busy recruiting week at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility will continue through the weekend. Kentucky is looking to close on targets and will likely make a big push to land a commitment from the Big Ten transfer during his time in the Bluegrass.

KSR’s Bio Blast is taking a closer look at the former blue-chip recruit looking for his third school in three seasons.

One year at Oregon

Dante Dowdell busted onto the prospect scene as a prep star at Picayune (Miss.) Memorial. The tailback rushed for 5,301 yards and 65 touchdowns while leading his team to consecutive state titles. Dowdell rushed for over 2,000 yards as a junior and senior. The class of 2023 product was named a U.S. Army All-American.

The top-150 recruit had offers from many big-time programs but committed to Oregon in May of his junior year to play for new head coach Dan Lanning and his first full-time coaching staff in Eugene. Dowdell signed with the Ducks and would play in six games as a true freshman for offensive coordinator Will Stein. However, there was a logjam at the position with underclassmen Jordan James and Noah Whittington ahead of Dowdell on the depth chart.

Dowdell entered the transfer portal last December after Oregon lost to Washington in the Pac-12 Championship Game. The tailback landed at Nebraska four weeks later.

Productive Big Ten starter

Dante Dowdell became a starter as a true sophomore at Nebraska in 2024. The tailback led the running back room in Lincoln in rushing attempts (143), rushing yards (614), rushing touchdowns (12), and yards after contact (393). The Nebraska run game ranked inside the top 30 in rushing success rate and rushing EPA/play. Dowdell was a big reason why.

The tailback owned a 40.6 percent first down/touchdown rate and was a key cog in short-yardage offense. Dowdell converted 24-of-27 (88.9%) third-and-short runs into first downs. The tailback accounted for 12 red zone touchdowns and was a key weapon for a Nebraska offense in goal-to-go situations.

DANTE. DOWDELL. @HuskerFootball TD.

Balloons are back, baby 🎈#B1GFootball on NBC 📺 pic.twitter.com/YZp0Llh1NP

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 7, 2024

The splash play numbers (11.9% explosive run rate) are not great with only two rushes of 20-plus yards in 160 career carries, but Dowdell was an effective downhill rusher who finished drives in the red zone and moved the chains on third down.

Luckett’s scouting notebook

Dante Dowdell will be a true junior in 2025 and quickly locked in a visit to Kentucky once hitting the transfer portal. Michigan is also expected to make a potential significant push for the Big Ten transfer. The tailback brings a productive skill set to the table.

The Nebraska transfer is an effective red zone weapon and can give a traditional rushing attack some needed tough yards while keeping the offense ahead of the chains. This is my scouting write-up of the transfer after watching some 2024 tape.

Dante Dowdell (6-2, 225) is a 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 with not much wiggle or change of direction shown once past the first line of defense. Despite his hard running style, 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. Dowdell can grind out yards against heavy boxes and consistently gains what is blocked. The transfer is not an explosive play generator but can play a big role in extending drive and finishing possessions with points in the red zone.