It turns out the NCAA transfer portal winds have blown Clifton McDowell to his sixth school – it’s just not Prairie View A&M.
Former Montana quarterback Clifton McDowell has committed to play for McNeese State after reports initially had him pegged to go to the SWAC program. Reporter Terrance Harris of the Houston Defender reported that McDowell was in attendance for spring practice and head coach Bubba McDowell told HBCU Legends he would be in the fold by the time the summer rolled around.
“Jeez, he looks very solid,” McDowell told HBCU Legends on Thursday. “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, and Prairie View apparently thought they had him.
McNeese State will open the season by hosting Southern University. It will host another SWAC West school, Alcorn State University, in Week Four.
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.