Georgia Football: D’Andre Swift among top SEC backs through Week 3

#3: Rico Dowdle, South Carolina-

Despite the fact that Clemson transfer Tavien Feaster came over to South Carolina, Dowdle has continued to show that he can handle the job of being RB1 at South Carolina.

Even with Feaster breathing down his neck and stealing carries, Dowdle has still run for 251 yards this year which is the seventh most in the SEC. This, despite practically splitting, carries 50/50 with Feaster.

Dowdle has been no slug when running the football as he has ran for the third most yards per carry in the SEC at a clip of 7.61 yards for every carry he gets.

But the numbers can get more impressive. When you look closer, he ran for just 5.6 yards per carry against North Carolina when the whole team looked inept.

Since then he has gone on to rush for 8.7 yards per carry against Charleston, and (here’s where it gets interesting) 8.5 yards per carry against an uber-talented Alabama defense.

There’s no way around it; Rico Dowdle has been impressive when toting the football for the Gamecocks. But that’s not all Dowdle has done.

He has also managed to gain the ninth most receiving yards through the air while also splitting that role with Feaster. Dowdle has 49 yards through the air and is averaging seven yards per catch.

Dowdle has been the more effective and efficient back for South Carolina and before the season is over, I expect that South Carolina will figure that out for themselves and start leaning in Dowdle’s  direction a little bit more.

Dowdle has been a very good back for the Gamecocks and he should be getting more touches in favor of Feaster. For now, Dowdle clocks in as the third best back in the SEC this year.