One of the bright spots in the Memphis Showboats‘ second season was a much-improved defense under new DC Jarren Horton. Coming to the UFL from the champion USFL Pittsburgh Maulers, Horton knew the kind of players he wanted for the Showboats. Seeking to duplicate his success in transforming the Maulers’ last-place defense into a championship team, Horton recruited several former players as his core group.
But as injuries began to mount early in the season, Horton sought their replacement players. One of those replacements, Andrew Dowell, made an immediate impact. Appearing in only 6 games, Dowell finished third on the team with 47 tackles, one interception (23-yard return), one pass defense, and a forced fumble. Despite being a mid-season replacement, Dowell was a perfect fit for Horton’s defense and his contribution was significant.
A High School & Collegiate Standout
A native of Cleveland, OH, the 6’1” 225 lb. Dowell attended St. Edward High School. Dowell was a talented utility player, excelling at offense and defense, and in his senior year, the team won the 2014 Division I State Championship.
Recording 153 tackles, 6 interceptions (three pick-sixes) 11 pass defenses, 47 rushes for 241 yards with six touchdowns, and 10 receptions for 148 yards with three touchdowns, Dowell earned All-Ohio and Cleveland.com All-Star honors.
Attending Michigan State University on a full scholarship, Dowell played college football alongside his twin brother, David. Leading his team in tackles, Dowell ranked 12th in the Big Ten in total tackles and tied for 13th in tackles per game. In his senior year, the Dowell twins were joined by their younger brother Michael, with all three brothers playing football at MSU.
Dowell’s NFL Experience
But despite his success as a Spartan, Dowell went undrafted in the 2019 NFL draft. In May 2019, he signed as a UDFA with the Dallas Cowboys. Unfortunately, his time with Dallas was brief and Dowell was waived with an injury designation before the start of the 2019 NFL season.
Dowell’s Years With The New Orleans Saints
A few months later in November of 2019, Dowell signed with the New Orleans Saints. He spent his first season with the team on the practice squad and was signed to a reserve /future contract the following January. Waived during final roster cuts before the start of the 2020 season, Dowell was re-signed to the practice squad the following day.
Elevated to the Saints’ active roster for a Week 17 against the Carolina Panthers, Dowell returned to the practice squad for the Saint’s Week 18 final game. He signed a reserve/future contract for the 2021 season.
Dowell made the Saints 53-man roster out of training camp in 2021, playing primarily on Special Teams for New Orleans. In December 2021, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dowell played an outstanding game, recording five special teams stops. He finished the 2021 regular season tied for fourth in the league with 15 special teams tackles.
In 2022, Dowell played in all 17 games for New Orleans, recording seven combined tackles and two forced fumbles. Although he was initially waived by the Saints for the 2023 season, he was re-signed in April 2023. However, during the 2023 pre-season, Dowell tore his ACL during practice and was placed on injured reserve. He missed the entire season.
Re-signing with the Saints in August 2024, he was waived by the team days later.
Making his first appearance this season with the Showboats in Week 4, Dowell quickly distinguished himself as one of Horton’s most reliable players, frequently topping the leaderboard and posting five or six tackles per game.
What’s Next for Dowell
In addition to playing professional football, Dowell pursued his Masters Degree in Sports Administration at Northwestern University’s School of Professional Studies.
Recently he posted on X, “Earning my Master’s while playing in the NFL was one of my toughest challenges, but also one of my proudest achievements! Job Finished. Mission Complete.”
A few weeks ago, Dowell accepted a position with the Washington Commanders as a 2025 Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellow gaining player personnel and front-office operations experience.
While it’s unknown if Dowell plans to return to the UFL next season, he certainly made the most of his time while he was here.
