Georgia Running Back Dante Dowdell Injured in ATV Accident

Georgia running back Dante Dowdell suffered serious injuries in an ATV accident near his home in Picayune, Mississippi, and is being treated at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, coach Kirby Smart confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday. Smart addressed the incident at SEC Media Days. "He's injured," Smart said.

"We don't know when his return will be. I don't know the specifics of it, to be honest with you. " Smart added that Dowdell had moved past the most critical phase. " Dowdell transferred to Georgia from Kentucky this offseason.

The senior was expected to serve as one of the Bulldogs' top backups behind returning starter Nate Frazier. He ran for 560 yards and three touchdowns in his lone season with the Wildcats. Dowdell previously played at Oregon in 2023 and Nebraska in 2024, where he gained 614 yards and scored 12 touchdowns.

Shepherd Center specializes in treatment and rehabilitation for spinal cord and brain injuries. Smart described Dowdell as a tremendous kid with a great family and noted that teammates have visited him in the hospital. "We're very supportive of them," Smart said.