Michael

Dowell

Dowell (6'1"/215) has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Dowell had his most productive season yet with Michigan State, accruing 40 total tackles and three passes defensed which were both career-highs. Dowell was committed to Pitt for a short time, but has since backed off that pledge and will now move on with the RedHawks in a bit of a homecoming. Dowell was Michigan State’s starting nickel for the first four games but was eventually replaced by Darius Snow and he entered the portal soon after.

After entering the portal the day after the Penn State game, Dowell (6'1/215) had committed to play for Pat Narduzzi and Pitt. On Thursday, he backed off of that pledge. He announced the move on Twitter citing unforeseen circumstances. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Michigan State’s defense is one of the most “funneling” defenses in the country. The Spartans entered Saturday’s game as the No. 1 defense in both yards per carry allowed (1.5) and rushing yards per game allowed (40.3), so Northwestern’s game plan was one dimensional as they let Clayton Thorson throw the ball 47 times while they managed just eight rushing yards on 20 carries. This lopsided attack is both a hat tip to the MSU rushing defense, but also suggests that there are real problems in the Spartan secondary. They will need to improve ASAP to beat Trace McSorely and the Nittany Lions next week.

Memorial Day falls on May 29 this year. Dowell told Scout.com that “I’m pretty sure I know where I want to go,” but said that he would not be naming a list of finalists because he does not want to sleight any of the schools which have offered to him. While the 6-foot, 195-pounder is not showing his cards yet, Michigan State is a very real possibility here, as Dowell’s two older brothers (Andrew and David) are both members of the Spartan team. Scout.com ranks Dowell as the No. 32 safety prospect in the country.

Dowell pledged to the Spartans in May, and signed his letter-of-intent to play for Michigan State in December. He’s the third member of his family to join the school, as his twin brothers Andrew and David are also members of the Spartans. A scouting report from 247 Sports says that he has “all the tools you look for in a safety.” They ranked the 6-foot, 195-pound defender as the 31st best player at his position, and the 18th best player to come out of the state of Ohio.