South Charlotte Today

As the free agency period concluded, the Carolina Panthers received high marks for signing running back Rico Dowdle. This move comes after the team faced setbacks in their running back lineup due to Jonathon Brooks' ACL injury and the release of Miles Sanders. To fill this gap, general manager Dan Morgan signed Dowdle, who previously played with the Dallas Cowboys.

Dowdle's connection to Carolina runs deep. Raised in Gaffney, South Carolina, he later moved to Asheville and attended A.C. Reynolds High School. He then committed to South Carolina for college, where he excelled both as a rusher and a receiver.

During his senior year of high school, Dowdle switched positions to quarterback and set a Western North Carolina record by being responsible for 63 touchdowns in one season. At A.C. Reynolds High School, he joined a list of notable alumni including country music artist Luke Combs and Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson.

In 2024, Dowdle achieved his best professional season with 1,079 rushing yards and five total touchdowns. He now has an opportunity to form a formidable duo with Chuba Hubbard in the Panthers' backfield.

According to Next Gen Stats, Dowdle averaged 3.5 yards after contact last season, ranking fifth among qualifying backs. Ian Hartitz from Fantasy Life noted that Dowdle consistently gained extra yards on over half of his carries.

The Panthers hope that Dowdle's addition will bolster their offensive lineup as they prepare for the upcoming season.