Four-star RB Dante Dowdell commits to Oregon

Dante Dowdell capped Picayune (Miss.) Memorial’s spring football season with some fireworks — in the form of one of the biggest decisions he’s made to date.

Dowdell, the nation’s No. 7-ranked running back on On3, committed to Oregon. Tennessee and in-state Ole Miss and were other finalists for the On300 standout.

Oregon assistant Carlos Locklyn and Dowdell have a connection that dates back years. After touring through Eugene earlier this spring, one of Mississippi’s best sees a bright opportunity ahead out West.

“The running backs coach sees a lot in me,” Dowdell told On3. “He told me I can be the face of this school, of this program, of the Pac-12. There’s not a lot of big backs like me in the Pac-12.”

Dowdell is well-versed on the Ducks history of NFL backs and believes he could fall into that same category. He’s also motivated by the presence of national championship-winning coach Dan Lanning leading the way.

“Oregon is a good school and one of those schools that’s made it to the national championship with good backs there like DeAnthony Thomas, LaMichael Thomas, LeGarrette Blount,” he started. “Coach Locklyn is a good guy and Coach Lanning helping out the defense is big. He knows what he’s talking about.”

Dowdell ranks as the No. 270 player in the nation on the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s rated at No. 190 on On3.