Andrew Dowell
| Personal information | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born: | November 16, 1996 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | ||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) | ||||||
| College: | Michigan State (2015–2018) | ||||||
| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||
| Undrafted: | 2019 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||
| |||||||
Andrew Dowell (born November 16, 1996) is an American professional football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans.
Early years
[edit]Dowell attended St. Edward High School. As a junior, he started at running back, collecting 158 carries for 968 yards (6.1-yard avg.), 13 rushing touchdowns, 17 receptions for 246 yards (14.5-yard avg.) and 3 receiving touchdowns.
As a senior, he started at safety and contributed to the team winning the 2014 Division I state championship. He tallied 153 tackles (2 for loss), 6 interceptions (3 returned for touchdowns), 11 passes defensed, 47 carries for 241 yards (5.1-yard avg.), 6 rushing touchdowns, 10 receptions for 148 yards (14.8 avg.) and 3 receiving touchdowns. He received All-Ohio and Cleveland.com All-Star honors.
He also practiced basketball and track.
College career
[edit]Dowell accepted a football scholarship from Michigan State University (MSU). As a true freshman, he played 13 games mainly on special teams, leading the team with 10 tackles.
As a sophomore, he made eight-of-12 starts at linebacker, posting 67 tackles and 7 special teams tackles (second on the team).
As a junior, he started all 13 games at linebacker, making 74 tackles (second on the team), 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, 4 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
As a senior, he again started all 13 games at linebacker, making 97 tackles (ranking him 10th in the Big Ten Conference) along with career high tackles for losses (8.5), pass break-ups (9) and sacks (3.5).[1] While at Michigan State, he played alongside his twin-brother David.[2] He earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors by coaches and media, and earned the MSU Tommy Love Award for most improved player on defense.
Professional career
[edit]| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 11+3⁄4 in (1.82 m) |
225 lb (102 kg) |
31+7⁄8 in (0.81 m) |
8+3⁄4 in (0.22 m) |
4.64 s | 1.62 s | 2.70 s | 4.25 s | 7.06 s | 31.0 in (0.79 m) |
9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) |
20 reps | |
| All values from Pro Day[3] | ||||||||||||
Dallas Cowboys
[edit]Dowell was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2019 NFL draft on May 1.[4] He was waived by Dallas, with an injury designation, on August 1, 2019.[5] He was waived from injured reserve on August 10, 2019.
New Orleans Saints
[edit]2019–2020
[edit]Dowell signed to the New Orleans Saints' practice squad on November 20, 2019.[6] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Saints on January 7, 2020.[7] He was waived during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020, and signed to the practice squad the next day.[8] He was elevated to the active roster on January 2, 2021, for the team's week 17 game against the Carolina Panthers, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.[9] On January 18, 2021, he signed a reserve/future contract at the conclusion of the 2020 season.[10]
2021
[edit]Dowell made the New Orleans Saints' 53-man roster following the 2021 training camp.[11][12] On September 26, 2021, in week 3, he blocked a punt against the New England Patriots' punter Jake Bailey in the second-quarter.[13] On December 19, 2021, in a week 15 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Dowell became the first NFL player in 2021 to record 5 special teams stops (four solo) in a single game.[14] He played in 16 games and finished the 2021 regular season tied for fourth in the league with 15 special teams tackles.
2022
[edit]Dowell appeared in all 17 regular season games for the Saints in 2022, racking up two forced fumbles and 7 combined tackles. He did not receive a qualifying offer following the season and became a free agent on March 15, 2023.[15] On April 3, 2023, he re-signed with the Saints.[1]
2023
[edit]On August 2, 2023, after sustaining a torn ACL during practice, Dowell was placed on the injured reserve.[16]
2024
[edit]On August 23, 2024, Dowell re-signed with the Saints, but was released four days later.[17][18]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Andrew Dowell". Michigan State Athletics. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ "Bro, no mo: David Dowell adapting to life at MSU without twin Andrew". The Detroit News. August 3, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ "2019 NFL Draft Scout Andrew Dowell College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ "MSU LB Andrew Dowell signs with Dallas Cowboys as UDFA". Spartans Wire. May 1, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ "Andrew Dowell: Cut loose by 'Boys". CBS Sports. August 1, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ "Updated Saints practice squad after signing LB Andrew Dowell". Saints Wire. November 21, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ "Saints sign 9 of 10 practice squad players to reserve/future deals". Nola.com. January 6, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ "Saints trim down to 53-man roster". Fox8. September 5, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. January 2, 2021. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
- ^ "Saints sign Christian Ringo, 13 more to Reserve/Future contracts". ESPN 1420. January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ "Andrew Dowell has made the New Orleans Saints 53-man roster". Spartans Wire. August 31, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ "Saints 53-Man Roster 2021 New Orleans Saints released several players to meet the NFL's 53-man roster deadline". si.com. August 31, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ Andrew Dowell blocks the punt vs. New England (Saints). September 26, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
- ^ "New Orleans Saints notes from 9-0 win over Tampa Bay Buccaneers". New Orleans Saints. December 19, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
- ^ "Saints make a surprising decision at the beginning of free agency". atozsports.com. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
- ^ "Saints Place Special Teams Standout LB on IR". Sports Illustrated New Orleans Saints News, Analysis and More. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. August 23, 2024.
- ^ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. August 27, 2024.