Dante Dowdell Helping Oregon Prepare for Utah Run Game, Ja'Quinden Jackson

The true freshman running back has been giving the Ducks a great look all season, but is especially important to Oregon's preparations for Utah.

Oregon's run defense has been stout this year, surrendering just 95.1 yards per game on the ground. However, the teams they've faced haven't been elite at running the ball, and Utah has one of the better rushing attacks, averaging 183.3 yards per game.

6-foot-2, 228-pound running back Ja'Quinden Jackson is averaging more than five yards per carry, and Oregon is prepared to face the bruiser.

Oregon defensive tackle Taki Taimani was asked about the challenge of bringing Jackson down and shared that true freshman running back Dante Dowdell has played a big role in helping the defense prepare to face Jackson.

"Our team's done a great job of putting some of those young guys like Dante, he's been running hard this whole week to get somewhat of a great look cause of that. 

"I know he's a hard runner too. It's not as easy to tackle him, so just seeing that, we know what it feels like and we know how much we have to put our bodies on the line to make sure we get that guy down."

Dowdell, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound from Picayune, Mississippi, scored his first college touchdown against Portland State this year, but it looks like he may be headed for a redshirt along with fellow true freshman Jayden Limar. However, limited game reps clearly haven't stopped him from making an impact on the Ducks this year.

Taimani has been impressed with the young ballcarrier from Mississippi. He thinks he's given the defense a great look all year and has a promising career ahead of him.

"A really great look. That guy, he's gonna do big things here. Personal experience, playing against him, that's one of the guys I hate tackling just like Bucky, James and Noah. You go against him as a young guy--for me to say that, that means all good things. It's just exciting to see. He's gonna have a good career here."

With junior running back Bucky Irving having a great season, he could be playing his way into the 2024 NFL Draft conversation, which could spell more opportunities for the young Dowdell looking ahead to next year.

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