Former South Carolina Gamecock named NFL Conference Player of the Week

On Sunday, South Carolina football alum Rico Dowdle posted the first 200-yard rushing day in the NFL this season. The Carolina Panthers running back filled in for starter Chuba Hubbard and promptly ran for 206 yards. He also found the end zone once and added 28 yards receiving in the victory over the Miami Dolphins.

For his efforts, the NFL named him NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

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Dowdle’s role for this Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys has not yet been determined, largely because Hubbard’s status hasn’t been revealed. However, Dowdle shared that he has something special in mind for an encore to last week’s performance.

Following five years with the Cowboys organization, Dowdle will get his first crack at facing the Cowboys this weekend. He told the media this week that his former team has “gotta buckle up” because of what he’s bringing on Sunday.

Dowdle rushed for over 1000 yards last season in Big D. Even so, the franchise let him walk in free agency. Ironically, his biggest game in 2024 came on the road against the Panthers. The performance served as a bit of foreshadowing for what was to come when he signed with Carolina.

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The former Gamecock and North Carolina native has enjoyed his homecoming. He now has his two best days as a professional in the city of Charlotte, just one hour from his birthplace (Gaffney, South Carolina) and two hours from where he played his high school ball (Asheville, North Carolina).

This Sunday’s matchup between the Panthers and Cowboys will begin at 1:00 p.m. in Charlotte. Fox will handle the television broadcast.

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