The NCAA transfer portal winds appear to have blown in Clifton McDowell, a talented quarterback looking for his sixth school.
Former Montana quarterback Clifton McDowell has committed to coming to play at Prairie View A&M, according to HBCU Legends. Reporter Terrance Harris of the Houston Defender reported that McDowell was in attendance for spring practice and head coach Bubba McDowell confirmed that he will be enrolled by the summer.
‘”Jeez, he looks very solid,’ McDowell told HBCU Legends. “We will get him in here by June, enroll him, and work with all the quarterbacks.”
The Spring, TX native started his career in 2019 at Louisiana. He spent a pair of seasons there before hitting the NCAA transfer portal and going the JUCO route (Kilgore College) and then bounced to the FCS at Central Arkansas. He moved on to Montana where he got consistent playing time for the first time in his career and made the most of it.
McDowell completed 160 of 274 pass attempts for 2,026 yards to go along with 13 touchdowns against four interceptions. He also used his feet as well, rushing or 753 yards and nine touchdowns on the season. He was named Big Sky Newcomer of the Year for the 2023 season. But he hit the transfer portal again, landing at Temple. He was there for just two weeks before re-entering the NCAA Transfer portal.
HBCU programs are well aware of his talent, as schools like Southern, Norfolk State, Delaware State and Savannah State offered McDowell in the past.
Prairie View A&M is the reigning SWAC West champion, battling Florida A&M for the SWAC title back in December after finishing 7-4 last season. It is looking for a replacement for Trazon Connelly, and it appears to have found a good one in McDowell.