When news broke over the summer that former Nebraska running back Dante Dowdell had been in an ATV accident, his current head coach, Kirby Smart, said it was quite serious. While Smart said that Dowdell was expected to make a full recovery, he stopped short of talking about whether he’d play in 2026. On Monday, Dowdell shared a behind-the-scenes look at what he's been through as he recovers.
Dowdell posted a minute-long social media video showing several of the steps he had to go through. The good news is that it appears he is completing those steps and is well on his way to getting better.
The former Nebraska star said he was sent to the hospital for two months after he broke ribs, punctured a lung, broke both collarbones, had nerve damage in his right arm, and had nine staples applied to his head.
“I don’t know when he’ll be back,” Smart said at SEC Media Days. “He had an off-campus accident back home during our break, and we’re praying for him and his family. We expect a full recovery, but the outlook right now is we’re waiting to see. I hate that for him and his family, but he’s a great kid. It’s been tough. A lot of our players have been over there to see him. It’s just one of those really tough situations.”
Former Kentucky RB and current Georgia RB Dante Dowdell shared a powerful recap of his recovery from an ATV accident he suffered during the offseason. 🙏🏾
— Chris Beasmore (@CBeasmoreSports) September 7, 2026
Dowdell revealed he suffered a punctured lung, broken ribs, nerve damage to his right arm, both collarbones broken and nine… pic.twitter.com/ihtGBPbWJ2
Dante Dowdell’s recovery should remain the priority before any football return
Despite all the concerns that Dowdell’s playing career might be in jeopardy, he’s showing that he’s taking an upbeat approach to everything. The caption read, "God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers!!"
He also ended the video with “Story not over.”
Dowdell’s college football story has been an interesting one. He began it with the Oregon Ducks but transferred to Nebraska ahead of the 2024 season. That year, he shared playing time with Emmett Johnson and was the Huskers’ main short-yardage back.
He finished the 2024 campaign with 612 yards and 12 touchdowns. While the Huskers expected him to return for 2025, he entered the Transfer Portal and eventually signed with the Kentucky Wildcats.
Last season, he ran for 560 yards and 3 touchdowns. He then entered the portal again and signed with Georgia. His preseason accident kept him from playing a down for Georgia so far.
Over his career at Nebraska, Oregon, and Kentucky, Dante Dowdell has run for 1,264 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also hauled in 14 catches for 50 yards. Hopefully, he will make a full recovery and add another chapter to his story.
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