For Dowdle, this move isn’t just about football it’s a homecoming. Born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, just over two hours from Charlotte, Dowdle stayed close to home for college, playing four years at the University of South Carolina, a short drive down I-77 from Bank of America Stadium. After spending four seasons with the Cowboys, including a breakout 2024 campaign, Dowdle now returns to the Carolinas to play in front of friends and family once again.

Dowdle’s journey has been a resilient one. After going undrafted in 2020, he worked his way up from a special teams contributor to becoming a key piece of the Cowboys’ offense last season. He racked up 1,079 rushing yards and two touchdowns, proving himself as a reliable and physical back.

His toughness was reflected in the stats, too. Dowdle led the league in one of the grittiest metrics for running backs:

Highest percentage of carries with 3+ yards after contact in 2024 (min. 150 carries):

1. Rico Dowdle — 51%
2. Bucky Irving — 48.8%
3. Derrick Henry — 48.6%
4. Chuba Hubbard — 48.4%

   That kind of power and persistence is exactly what the Panthers’ backfield needs. He’ll join forces with fellow bruiser Chuba Hubbard — who also ranked in the top four in that same category to create a dynamic, hard-nosed rushing duo for Carolina.

   With his new deal, Dowdle ranks among the top 15 to 20 highest-paid running backs in the league, a well-earned payday for a player who had to fight for every opportunity. Now, he gets to chase even bigger goals — back home, where it all started.