Gamecocks running back target closing in on commitment
Shrine Bowl running back Rico Dowdle of Asheville, N.C., could make a commitment before setting out on his final official visits.
Dowdle (6-1, 206) favors South Carolina over N.C. State, Tennessee and Wake Forest and said he might be ready to commit early next week before taking his official visit with the Gamecocks scheduled for the weekend of Jan. 15. Dowdle, who is originally from the Upstate, said he’s eyeing Jan. 10-12 as a potential commitment time frame.
“My favorite right now is probably South Carolina,” Dowdle said. “Just talking to the coaches and the love of the fans, and they are in my home state and all my family can come see me play. It’s not too far from here where the people from here can come see me play. I know it’s a great place. I’ve got a cousin (Shaq Davidson) that plays for them, plays receiver. Had a person from Gaffney graduate from there and go on to play in the NFL for the Vikings and Seahawks, Sidney Rice. There’s some great stuff that goes on down in Columbia.”
Dowdle has taken an official visit to N.C. State and is scheduled to visit Wake Forest Jan. 22 and Tennessee Jan. 29.
“If I make my commitment January 10th through the 12th, whoever I commit to, I’m not going to go on the other visits,” Dowdle said. “I’m ready to be all in and committed to the Gamecocks. I’ve been thinking about it lately. My family, I’ve been talking to them about it, my coach and everything, just kind of waiting to see how everything plays out with Tennessee. I told my coach I want to decide between January 10th and January 12th because the 15th is when all the big recruits start coming in and I know there’s not that many spots left. I could miss out on an opportunity somewhere else because of me just waiting it out. I’m just going to try to decide then.”
Dowdle said Tennessee was only taking one running back in the 2016 class but now apparently will take two. He said the Vols have told him they’ve got to wait and see if something frees up another scholarship.
“They don’t want to offer me a scholarship and then I can’t come,” Dowdle explained. “They’ve already got a running back that’s committed.”
Dowdle said he won’t wait around on the Vols and if he commits to USC early next week he will shut down his recruiting. He has been in touch with the Gamecocks coaches and is excited about the opportunity.
“Just really hearing that they can use me down there and I’m a great for the offense and I’m a good running back they can use down there in Columbia,” he said. “That I need to come home and stuff, just a lot of love on Twitter from the fans and things from South Carolina. It’s just a great feeling. Nothing but positive.
Dowdle has talked the most with area recruiter Shawn Elliott. He’s also talked with Will Muschamp and running backs coach Bobby Bentley.
This past season Dowdle rushed for 2,545 yards and 51 touchdowns and passed for 1,434 yards and 11 scores. In the Shrine Bowl he rushed for 19 yards and one touchdown and caught 5 passes for 48 yards and a score.
News and notes
▪ WR Kiel Pollard of Moultrie, Ga., has set an official visit to USC for Jan. 15. He has visited Arkansas and currently is committed to the Razorbacks. He said he has no other visits planned and his final decision will come down to the Gamecocks and Hogs.
▪ Former Mr. Football WR/DB Tramel Terry of Goose Creek announced Monday night he will transfer from Georgia to Jacksonville State. Terry will be eligible to play next season. He looked into possibly transferring to USC but would have had to sit out the season, thus the decision to transfer to an FCS program.
▪ USC OL commitment Pete Leota of Asheville will take his USC official visit Jan. 15. He is also set to visit Wake Forest Jan. 22. He said he’s 100 percent committed but does want to take a couple of other visits.
▪ USC OL commitment Will Putnam of Harrisburg, N.C., said his only official visit will be to USC Jan. 15.
▪ DB Chris Brown of Houston said Sunday night he’s not heard from USC since getting an offer last month and doesn’t see the Gamecocks factoring in his plans at this point. He has taken official visits to UCLA, Arizona State and Michigan and has set a visit to Florida. USC also offered Brown’s teammate LB Dontavious Jackson last month but he has filled out his visits with Florida and Alabama. He has been to UCLA, Florida State and Michigan.
▪ DB Brandon Jones of Nacogdoches, Texas, was offered by USC Monday night. He has an official visit to Texas set for Jan. 15 and one to Auburn Jan. 29. He has visited Texas A&M. Alabama and Baylor are some of his other offers.
▪ USC reportedly is one of several schools to reach out to DL Keanu Saleapaga of La Mirad, Calif., Monday night after he decommitted from Southern Cal. Greg Biggins of Scout reported the Gamecocks, along with Georgia, Colorado State, Oklahoma and Mississippi State, were some of the schools to contact Saleapaga. He committed to Southern Cal in June.
This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 3:25 PM with the headline "Gamecocks running back target closing in on commitment."