Dallas Cowboys first-year starting running back Rico Dowdle had to wait his turn, but now that he has gotten his chance in Big D, the former South Carolina football star has made the most of it. On Sunday, Dowdle surpassed the 1000-yard rushing mark on the season.

With a strong showing in a losing effort to the Philadelphia Eagles, Dowdle logged his fourth 100-yard performance in his last five games. With 104 yards on 23 carries, No. 23 now has 1007 yards this season.

In crossing the 1000-yard barrier, Dowdle became the first undrafted player ever to do so for the storied Cowboys franchise. He also became the first former Gamecock to rush for that many yards since Duce Staley. Staley ran for over 1000 yards three times for the Eagles in the late ’90s and early 2000s.

Dowdle, who has been with Dallas since 2020, was a backup for four seasons behind Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. Now that he’s the starter, though, he has surpassed all of Elliott’s and Pollard’s single-season rushing totals from 2020-2023.

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Dowdle’s big year couldn’t have come at a better time for his bank account. Before the season, the running back signed a one-year deal to stay with the Cowboys. Now that he has proven he can be an NFL starter, he should earn a nice payday for 2025. He will be a sought-after free agent this spring.

During his South Carolina football career, injuries hampered Dowdle a bit. When he was healthy, though, he was extremely productive for the Gamecocks. Despite missing some time, he finished his time in garnet and black with 2167 yards and 16 touchdowns. Both of those numbers are in the top 16 in USC history among running backs.

During a pre-game press conference on Saturday, South Carolina’s Clayton White took the stage to discuss the Gamecocks’ upcoming game against Illinois. White was able to speak on the challenges his team faces, including Fighting Illini’s Luke Altmyer.

After beginning his career in Oxford, Mississippi for Ole Miss, Altmyer transferred to Illinois and won the quarterback job in 2023. Altmyer, wrapping up his second season with the Fighting Illini, is enjoying the best year of his college career.

The 6-foot-2 and 195 pounder out of Starksville, Mississippi has started all 12 games in 2024 completing 60.9 percent of his passes for 2,543 yards, 21 touchdowns, and five interceptions. While not known for being a running quarterback, Altmyer has shown the ability to extend plays with his legs garnering 219 yards on the ground and 4 touchdowns.

It’s not uncommon for staffs to not study other teams that aren’t on their schedule unless they are wanting to add a new wrinkle to a particular side of the ball. So it makes sense as to why South Carolina didn’t watch a ton of tape on Altmyer until these last two weeks. What White learned is Altmyer is a quarterback that can threaten defenses.

“He’s a really good quarterback,” White said. “His mobility to move around the pocket is big time. Once he gets outside the pocket, he’s a threat. He makes smart decisions.”

And while Altmyer was an unkown before bowl season, they certainly know him now.

“He’s one of those quarterbacks that I didn’t really know about until we played him, but I definitely know who he is now for sure,” White said.

Kickoff between the Gamecocks and the FIghting Illini is set for 3:00 pm (ET) on ABC on Tuesday December 31.

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Two wallabies were on the run in Simpsonville, South Carolina, on December 27, after escaping from a petting zoo at a holiday attraction the previous night.

Alex Fowler’s security cameras captured video showing one of the wallabies bounding past two bewildered onlookers outside his home in Simpsonville on Friday morning.

According to local reports, the wallabies escaped from a petting zoo at the Night of Lights holiday attraction in Simpsonville on Thursday night.

Later on Friday morning, the event organizers confirmed both wallabies, named Creed and Sylvester, had been recovered and returned. Credit: Alex Fowler via Storyful