Rico Dowdle Jr., born on June 14, 1998, is an American professional football running back and kickoff returner currently playing for the Carolina Panthers in the NFL. He first gained significant attention at A. C. Reynolds High School, where as a senior quarterback, he set a WNC single-season record with an astounding 63 total touchdowns, earning him Parade All-American honors. Dowdle continued his career at the University of South Carolina, where despite battling various injuries, he finished 15th on the school's all-time rushing list with 2,167 yards and 16 touchdowns in 39 games.
After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Dowdle signed with the Dallas Cowboys, making their roster as a rookie and contributing on special teams and as a backup running back. His early professional career saw him tally 4 kickoff returns for 152 yards in his debut season before a hip injury placed him on injured reserve in 2021. Dowdle continued to contribute to the Cowboys in 2022, primarily on special teams, before joining his current team, the Carolina Panthers.