Rico Dowdle
Video by Jeff Tyner, analysis by Wes Mitchell
Evaluation by Matt O'Brien
What I like: Dowdle is a superb athlete who flashes brilliance with the ball in his hands. His vision, quick feet, and cut-back skills make him highly elusive, with the ability to turn a negative play into a big gain. Dowdle has good open-field speed and his acceleration through traffic is about as good as it gets. Dowdle is not a power runner, but he packs enough strength to break through arm tackles and fight for extra yardage after contact. He has natural hands and receiving skills, which make him a versatile weapon who the coaches can line up at multiple spots in different formations on offense. Dowdle also has the skillset to serve as a dangerous return man.
Instant Impact? David Williams will likely win the starting running back spot in 2016, but Dowdle’s playmaking ability will give him a chance to earn a lot of playing time as a true freshman. It would not surprise me to see Dowdle make an impact from a number of spots on offense this season.
Rivals rating: I don’t agree with Dowdle being rated anything less than a four-star.