North Carolina Central University

FOOTBALL

     North Carolina Central University senior defensive end Ronald Dowdy (Fayetteville, N.C./Pine Forest H.S.) has been named by D2Football.com as a member of its 2005 NCAA Division II All-America Football Team, recognizing him as one of the top 50 defensive players in the nation.
     The 6-4, 285-pound transfer from the University of Florida was selected All-America honorable mention after leading NCCU with 11.0 tackles for loss, five sacks, six quarterback hurries, three recovered fumbles and five forced fumbles, which ranks No. 1 in the conference and third in the nation. Dowdy also recorded 54 total tackles (27 solo). 
     After his only season at NCCU, Dowdy has also been named to the 2005 All-CIAA First Team and the 2005 Daktronics All-Southeast Region Second Team. 
     In arguably his best game as an Eagle, Dowdy amassed 3.5 tackles for a loss with two sacks and two forced fumbles at Lenoir-Rhyne (Sept. 10), including the sack that ended the game in overtime. He also recorded seven tackles, including two hits for a loss, two forced fumbles and two quarterback hurries against Bowie State in CIAA Championship Game (Nov. 5). 
     During the 2005 campaign, NCCU captured the first CIAA football championship in 25 years, won 10 games for the first time in school history, and finished as the No. 2 ranked team in the Southeast Region. 
     As a member of the Florida Gators (2002-04), he played four positions, including tight end, defensive end, defensive tackle and offensive guard. Dowdy graduated from Florida with a bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Management.