Former Kentucky running back Dante Dowdell has committed to Georgia, his fourth team in four years, Dawgs247 reported Monday.
The news came just hours after running back Chauncey Bowens announced his return to the Bulldogs and hours before Nate Frazier confirmed he would return to the team for 2026 as well.
Dowdell split time with fellow Wildcat tailback Seth McGowan last year, recording 560 rushing yards on 112 attempts for five yards per carry and three touchdowns. McGowan handled the majority of the red zone touches, totaling 12 rushing scores, but averaged fewer yards per carry than Dowdell.
According to 247Sports, Dowdell originally committed to Oregon as a four-star recruit in December 2022. The Picayune, Mississippi, native appeared sporadically for the Ducks as a freshman, but had a breakout year as a sophomore after transferring to Nebraska. Dowdell became Nebraska’s top back in 2024, taking 143 carries for an impressive 614 yards and 12 touchdowns. He even outperformed teammate Emmett Johnson, who became the fourth-highest rusher in the Football Bowl Subdivision this year following Dowdell’s departure and could become a first-round NFL draft pick.
Dowdell showed off his abilities for the Cornhuskers, but with Frazier and Bowens back in the picture for 2026, he will likely take on a more complementary role as he did with Kentucky. Still, the incoming senior has the opportunity to form a “three-headed monster” in the backfield with Frazier and Bowens, something not unusual to see from head coach Kirby Smart’s offenses.
Additionally, at 6-foot-2, 227 pounds, Dowdell has a similar build to former Georgia running back Josh McCray, who announced his entrance into the 2026 NFL Draft on Jan. 10, which could give him the opportunity to assume a similar role in goal-line and third-and-short situations that McCray filled last season. With running backs Dwight Phillips Jr. and Bo Walker expected to return to the Bulldogs as well, the addition of Dowdell helps add depth and versatility to Georgia’s 2026 running back room.