Former South Carolina running back Rico Dowdle is on the move in the NFL after signing a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers worth $3 million, but it could increase to $6.5 million with incentives and bonuses.
Dowdle is coming off his first-ever 1,000-yard season with the Dallas Cowboys, in which he had exactly 1,079 yards and two rushing touchdowns, as well as 249 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. At the beginning of the 2024 season, the Cowboys announced they would use a committee at the running back position, but halfway through the season, Dowdle was named the starting back.
The Asheville, North Carolina native will now play nearly two hours away from his hometown and will also be close to his Alma Mater. Dowdle with South Carolina was a dynamic back with great speed, something he showed with the Cowboys this past season.
The Panthers signed Dowdle to a one-year deal to be backup to starting running back Chuba Hubbard, who was awarded a $33.2 million four-year extension for his play last season. Even as the backup, though, Dowdle will get a chance with the ball in his hands, and he has to make the most of it. The Panthers needed another sure-handed back on the field when Hubbard can't go or needs a breather, and with Jonathon Brooks still rehabbing an ACL injury, Dowdle is who the Panthers chose to turn to.
The young running back became the first undrafted back in Dallas Cowboys history to eclipse over 1,000 rushing yards in a season. He also became the first undrafted player to have three straight games with 100 or more rushing yards.
Dowdle will not be the only former Gamecock playing with the Panthers as he joins Jaycee Horn, who just signed a monster extension with the Panthers, DJ Wonnum, second-year wide receiver Xavier LEgettle, adn Jadeveon Clowney. Clearly, the South Carolina roots run deep with the Panthers with the college not being too far away and all.