Dante Dowdell played just one season for the Oregon Ducks before he entered his name into the transfer portal and took his talents to the Nebraska Cornhuskers ahead of the 2024 season.
While with the Ducks, Dowdell played a supporting role behind star running backs Bucky Irving, who is now in the NFL, and Jordan James, who is one of Oregon's current star RBs. When Dowdell transferred to Nebraska, he became the go-to guy in the backfield and amassed a team-leading 614 yards on the ground for an impressive 12 touchdowns.
However, as Nebraska prepared for its matchup against the Boston College Eagles in the Pinstripe Bowl, Dowdell entered the portal once again. Just over a week before the postseason game, the running back announced he was transferring to Kentucky.
BREAKING: Nebraska transfer RB Dante Dowdell has Committed to Kentucky, he tells @on3sports
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 20, 2024
The 6’2 225 RB totaled 143 Carries for 614 yards and 12 TDs this season
Started his career at Oregon
2 years of eligibility remaining https://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/mKeU6k5Q2H
Dowdell earned just 90 yards on 17 carries for the Ducks throughout the 2023 season and found the end zone just once, in Oregon's season opener against Portland State.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers aren't going into their bowl game empty-handed in the backfield with backup running back Emmett Johnson being a solid second choice, earning 523 yards and 1 touchdown on the ground throughout the regular season.
Alongside Johnson in the backfield will be Nebraska's (Patrick Mahomes-esque) quarterback Dylan Raiola who became a star for the Cornhuskers at the beginning of the season. While Raiola isn't a dual-threat quarterback (he ran for -68 yards through Nebraska's 12 games so far this season), he did throw the ball for a jaw-dropping 2,595 passing yards throughout the year.
Nebraska and Boston College will kick off at the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 28 at 9 a.m. PT. The Oregon Ducks will kick off their (first) postseason matchup just four days later at the Rose Bowl Game against Ohio State or Tennessee.