Colton Dowell Bio
Colton Davis Dowell is an American professional football wide receiver. Born on April 19, 1999, in Lebanon, Tennessee, he plays in the National Football League (NFL) and is currently a member of the San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for the UT Martin Skyhawks and entered the league after being selected by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Early Life and Background
Colton Davis Dowell was born and raised in Lebanon, Tennessee, where he developed an early interest in football. He attended Wilson Central High School in Lebanon, where he emerged as a productive wide receiver for the program. As a senior, he helped lead his team to an 8–3 record while posting 799 receiving yards on 44 receptions with five touchdowns, performances that drew the attention of college scouts.
Coming out of high school, Dowell was rated a two-star recruit and received scholarship offers from several NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision programs, as well as two Football Bowl Subdivision schools. He initially committed to play for the Chattanooga Mocs before ultimately changing his commitment and signing with the UT Martin Skyhawks, a move that launched his college career.
Path to American Football
Dowell arrived at UT Martin in 2017 and spent his first year on campus redshirting while adjusting to the college level. The following season, he appeared in 11 games and recorded 10 catches for 138 yards with three touchdowns, showing enough promise to earn a larger role going forward.
By 2019, Dowell had grown into a featured target for the Skyhawks offense. He started 10 of 12 games and produced 765 receiving yards on 38 receptions with four touchdowns, the second-best yardage total on the team. His play earned him a place on the HERO Sports sophomore All-America team and a second-team all-conference selection, setting the stage for him to become one of the program’s most productive pass catchers in later seasons.
Colton Dowell Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
After redshirting in 2017, Dowell gradually built a reputation as a reliable, physical receiver at UT Martin. He developed his route running and blocking skills while adjusting to the pace of college football, and by his sophomore year he was producing like a top option in the passing game. Those formative years gave him the experience and confidence needed to handle a featured role in the seasons that followed.
UT Martin Breakthrough (2020–2022)
The 2020 season was postponed to the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Dowell used that opportunity to showcase his full skill set. He started all seven games of the spring 2021 schedule and recorded 40 receptions for 459 yards and four touchdowns, earning first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors. The performance marked his arrival as one of the top receivers in the conference.
An injury limited Dowell to six games in the fall 2021 season, but he still managed 22 catches for 398 yards and two touchdowns and picked up another all-conference selection. In his final collegiate season, he totaled 67 receptions for 1,036 yards and six touchdowns, again earning first-team all-conference recognition. He finished his UT Martin career as the program’s all-time leader in receiving yards with 2,796, while also tallying 177 receptions and 19 touchdowns.
Tennessee Titans Era (2023–2024)
The Tennessee Titans selected Dowell in the seventh round, 228th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft. He made the team’s final roster and saw his first NFL action in a Week 4 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, a milestone that validated his long path to the league. His rookie season was cut short in Week 17 against the Houston Texans, when he suffered a torn ACL and meniscus.
Dowell began the 2024 season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list as he recovered from that knee injury and did not play during the year. On July 25, 2025, he was waived by the Titans, closing out his original rookie contract chapter with the team that had drafted him.
Baltimore Ravens (2025)
On October 20, 2025, Dowell signed with the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad in search of a fresh opportunity. He was released by the team five days later, ending a brief stay with the organization.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2026–Present)
Dowell signed a reserve/future contract with the San Francisco 49ers on January 14, 2026, joining the team as he continued working his way back from injury. The deal gave him a chance to compete for a spot on the active roster and begin a new phase of his professional career in a different offensive system.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 ft 3 in and 212 lb, Dowell has the size and frame of a classic outside receiver. He showed consistent hands and the willingness to work the middle of the field during his time at UT Martin, and his production as a chain-mover and red-zone target made him a featured piece of the Skyhawks offense before his transition to the NFL.
Notable Events and Milestones
Dowell’s most significant milestones include becoming UT Martin’s all-time leader in receiving yards, hearing his name called in the 2023 NFL draft, and making his NFL debut with the Tennessee Titans in 2023. His recovery from a torn ACL and meniscus, followed by subsequent signings in 2025 and 2026, highlights the resilience that has shaped his early professional journey.
Colton Dowell Career Wins
As a wide receiver, Colton Davis Dowell’s career is measured more by statistical production and milestones than by head-to-head wins. He has recorded receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns at both the college and professional levels, while also earning multiple All-Ohio Valley Conference selections and an HERO Sports All-America nod.
UT Martin Highlights
Dowell finished his college career as UT Martin’s all-time leader in receiving yards with 2,796, along with 177 receptions and 19 touchdowns. He earned first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors in both the spring 2021 and 2022 seasons, and added a second-team selection in 2019, establishing himself as one of the most productive receivers in program history.
Other Performances
At the NFL level, Dowell’s on-field production has been limited by injuries and roster movement. Through the 2024 season he had recorded 1 reception for 3 receiving yards, with his most notable contribution coming during his Week 4 debut in 2023 before a season-ending knee injury.
Colton Dowell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Colton Davis Dowell’s immediate family is limited. He grew up in Lebanon, Tennessee, and his development as an athlete has been closely tied to that community and to the support system around him during his years at Wilson Central High School and UT Martin.
Personal Life
Colton Davis Dowell has kept much of his personal life private. Available verified details focus on his football career, his hometown of Lebanon, Tennessee, and his path through the NFL with the Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, and San Francisco 49ers.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a year of transition for Dowell. After spending the 2024 campaign on the reserve/physically unable to perform list while recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus, he was waived by the Tennessee Titans on July 25, 2025, ending his original stint with the team that had drafted him in 2023.
Later in the fall, Dowell signed with the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad on October 20, 2025, briefly returning to an NFL roster. That stay lasted only five days before he was released, leaving him to reassess his next opportunity heading into the offseason.
Looking ahead, Dowell’s outlook is tied to his January 14, 2026 reserve/future contract with the San Francisco 49ers. The deal gives him a platform to compete for a role in a new offense, continue his recovery, and attempt to carve out a longer-term place in the league after an injury-marred start to his professional career.