The Dallas Cowboys haven’t had many positive surprises in 2024, but running back Rico Dowdle has bucked the team’s overall downward trend. After sitting at the bottom of the depth chart for years, the fifth-year pro has broken through as the Cowboys’ unquestioned lead back.
Below we take a look at how Dowdle fared in college, breaking down his South Carolina career.
A Look Back at Rico Dowdle’s College Career
Dowdle played all four collegiate seasons at South Carolina, starring for the Gamecocks from 2016-19. He finished as the program’s 15th all-time leading rusher with 2,167 yards while also adding on 16 rushing touchdowns, 483 receiving yards, and three receiving scores.
Much like his pro career, Dowdle was rarely the clear top dog in South Carolina’s backfield. He led them in rushing as a freshman in 2016 (764 yards), despite missing four games due to offseason hernia surgery.
However, the injury bug popped up again as a sophomore when Dowdle missed the final five games after breaking his leg vs. Tennessee. Though he would rebound to lead the team in rushing as a junior in 2018 (654 yards), he was relegated to backup status as a senior in 2019.
South Carolina opted to start transfer Tavien Feaster, who won a pair of national championships for in-state rival Clemson in 2016 and 2018.
Dowdle didn’t earn many accolades due to the timeshare he was in throughout his collegiate career. He was named to Athlon Sports’ second-team All-SEC Freshman Team for his 2016 season, and earned the program’s Tenacity Award as a senior.
As a result of his injuries and inconsistent playing time, Dowdle slipped to undrafted free agency after he entered the 2020 NFL Draft. He successfully made the Cowboys’ roster, serving as the third-string back behind Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, but only had 96 career carries entering 2024.
Dowdle has since blown past that mark, piling up 600 rushing yards and 195 receiving yards through 11 games. The Cowboys were initially expected to use a timeshare between him and Elliott, who returned to Dallas for a second stint after a 2023 layover with the New England Patriots.
However, Dowdle has managed to break free of the committee for the first time in his college or NFL career. So while Dallas hasn’t enjoyed the season it envisioned entering 2024, Dowdle has emerged as a starting-level back the franchise can pencil in as they attempt to fill numerous other roster holes for 2025.