Andrew Dowell
{{Short description|American football player (born 1996)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Andrew Dowell
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team =Memphis Showboats
| number =51
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|11|16}}
| birth_place = Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 225
| high_school = St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)
| college = Michigan State (2015–2018)
| undraftedyear = 2019
| pastteams =
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2019}})*
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2019|2023}})
- Memphis Showboats ({{UFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status =Active
| highlights =
| statleague = NFL
| statseason = 2023
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 22
| statlabel2 = Pass deflections
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Interceptions
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue4 = 2
| statlabel5 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue5 =
| statlabel6 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue6 =
| pfr = DoweAn00
}}
Andrew Dowell (born November 16, 1996) is an American professional football linebacker for the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans.
Early life
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
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).{{cite web|url=https://msuspartans.com/sports/football/roster/andrew-dowell/1391|title=Andrew Dowell|work=Michigan State Athletics|accessdate=26 January 2021}} While at Michigan State, he played alongside his twin-brother David.{{cite news|url=https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state-university/2019/08/03/bro-no-mo-david-dowell-adapting-life-msu-without-twin-andrew/1910241001/|title=Bro, no mo: David Dowell adapting to life at MSU without twin Andrew|work=The Detroit News|date=3 August 2019|accessdate=26 January 2021}} 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
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11 3/4
| weight = 225
| dash = 4.64
| ten split = 1.62
| twenty split = 2.70
| shuttle = 4.25
| cone drill = 7.06
| vertical = 31.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 10
| bench = 20
| arm span = 31 7/8
| hand span = 8 3/4
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=2019 NFL Draft Scout Andrew Dowell College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1002834&DraftYear=2019 |access-date=January 7, 2024 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=Dallas Cowboys=
Dowell was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2019 NFL draft on May 1.{{cite news|url=https://spartanswire.usatoday.com/2019/05/01/msu-lb-andrew-dowell-signs-with-dallas-cowboys-as-udfa/|title=MSU LB Andrew Dowell signs with Dallas Cowboys as UDFA|work=Spartans Wire|date=1 May 2019|accessdate=26 January 2021}} He was waived by Dallas, with an injury designation, on August 1, 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/andrew-dowell-cut-loose-by-boys/|title=Andrew Dowell: Cut loose by 'Boys|work=CBS Sports|date=1 August 2019|accessdate=26 January 2021}} He was waived from injured reserve on August 10, 2019.
=New Orleans Saints=
==2019–2020==
Dowell signed to the New Orleans Saints' practice squad on November 20, 2019.{{cite news|url=https://saintswire.usatoday.com/gallery/saints-practice-squad-andrew-dowell-michigan-state-football/|title=Updated Saints practice squad after signing LB Andrew Dowell|work=Saints Wire|date=21 November 2019|accessdate=26 January 2021}} He signed a reserve/future contract with the Saints on January 7, 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_c7f7110c-30c5-11ea-8baf-7bf2089f2a69.html|title=Saints sign 9 of 10 practice squad players to reserve/future deals|work=Nola.com|date=6 January 2020|accessdate=26 January 2021}} He was waived during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020, and signed to the practice squad the next day.{{cite news|url=https://www.fox8live.com/2020/09/05/saints-trim-down-man-roster/|title=Saints trim down to 53-man roster|work=Fox8|date=5 September 2020|accessdate=26 January 2021}} 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.{{cite news |title=New Orleans Saints announce roster moves |url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-announce-roster-moves-01022021 |website=NewOrleansSaints.com |date=January 2, 2021 |access-date=February 15, 2021 |archive-date=March 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303015744/https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-announce-roster-moves-01022021 |url-status=dead }} On January 18, 2021, he signed a reserve/future contract at the conclusion of the 2020 season.{{cite news|url=https://espn1420.com/saints-sign-christian-ringo-13-more-to-reservefuture-contracts/|title=Saints sign Christian Ringo, 13 more to Reserve/Future contracts|work=ESPN 1420|date=21 January 2021|accessdate=26 January 2021}}
==2021==
Dowell made the New Orleans Saints' 53-man roster following the 2021 training camp.{{cite web|url=https://spartanswire.usatoday.com/2021/08/31/andrew-dowell-has-made-the-new-orleans-saints-53-man-roster/?fr=operanews|title=Andrew Dowell has made the New Orleans Saints 53-man roster|work=Spartans Wire|date=31 August 2021|accessdate=3 September 2021}}{{cite web|title=Saints 53-Man Roster 2021 New Orleans Saints released several players to meet the NFL's 53-man roster deadline.|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/saints/news/saints-initial-53-man-roster-2021|website=si.com|date=31 August 2021|accessdate=3 September 2021}} On September 26, 2021, in week 3, he blocked a punt against the New England Patriots' punter Jake Bailey in the second-quarter.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/video/andrew-dowell-punt-block-saints-patriots-week-3-highlights-2021-nfl|title=Andrew Dowell blocks the punt vs. New England|type=Saints|date=26 September 2021|accessdate=28 September 2021}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-notes-from-9-0-win-over-tampa-bay-buccaneers|title=New Orleans Saints notes from 9-0 win over Tampa Bay Buccaneers|work=New Orleans Saints|date=19 December 2019|accessdate=22 December 2021}} He played in 16 games and finished the 2021 regular season tied for fourth in the league with 15 special teams tackles.
==2022==
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.{{Cite web|title=Saints make a surprising decision at the beginning of free agency|url=https://atozsports.com/.amp/new-orleans/saints-blake-gillikin-decision-free-agency-news-nfl/|access-date=2023-04-08|website=atozsports.com|language=en}} On April 3, 2023, he re-signed with the Saints.
== 2023==
On August 2, 2023, after sustaining a torn ACL during practice, Dowell was placed on the injured reserve.{{Cite news |title=Saints Place Special Teams Standout LB on IR |language=en |work=Sports Illustrated New Orleans Saints News, Analysis and More |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/saints/news/saints-place-andrew-dowell-ir-chuck-filiaga |access-date=2023-08-03}}
==2024==
On August 23, 2024, Dowell re-signed with the Saints, but was released four days later.{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints announce roster moves|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-announce-roster-moves-x8894|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|date=August 23, 2024}}{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints announce roster moves|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-53-man-roster-cuts-moves-transactions-august-27-2024-nfl-season|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|date=August 27, 2024}}
= Memphis Showboats =
On April 14, 2025, Dowell signed with the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League (UFL).{{cite web |last1=Larsen |first1=James |title=Showboats Sign Andrew Dowell & Ja’Mion Franklin, Cut Two |url=https://pfnewsroom.com/news/showboats-sign-andrew-dowell-jamion-franklin-cut-two/ |website=PFnewsroom.com |access-date=16 April 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://msuspartans.com/sports/football/roster/andrew-dowell/1391 Michigan State Spartans football bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dowell, Andrew}}
Category:Players of American football from Cleveland
Category:American football linebackers
Category:St. Edward High School (Lakewood, Ohio) alumni
Category:Michigan State Spartans football players
Category:Dallas Cowboys players