Andrew Dowell Feature: The Bond Of Brothers

It's true that being a Spartan is all about family, but for senior linebacker Andrew Dowell, the phrase has an even more special meaning as he gets to suit up in the Green and White and share the field with his two brothers every Saturday.

After playing on the same team as his twin brother, David, for three seasons, their younger brother, Michael, decided to become a Spartan and join the older two Dowells in East Lansing – wearing No. 7, following Andrew's No. 5 and David's No. 6.

"It's a special thing, all three of us being here at the same time. There's been three sets of brothers before, but they've never all collectively been here so that's special for us," Dowell said. "We're not taking those moments for granted, whether it's just chilling on the sideline or meeting our parents at the hotel. Our parents have been able to make it to every single game and stuff like, that so it's a really special moment that we're trying to take in."

Andrew and David are thrilled to have their younger brother on campus, as well as their parents, Will and Anita, who no longer have to split their time on Saturdays between driving up to East Lansing to watch Andrew and David and staying back in Ohio to cheer on Michael at his high school football games.

A key role in Andrew's development, both on the field as a football player and off the field as a man, has been the influence of his family. The opportunity to be able to share his senior season with both of his brothers on the field with him and having his parents in the stands at every game has been something that he will cherish long after his time at Michigan State concludes.

"We never even had that in high school so this is the first time, even though David and I have been together, playing all our life, my little brother has always been right behind us," Dowell said. "All three of us have never collectively been on a team together so it's a moment that we really cherish. Hanging out on the sidelines, people have all types of jokes for us. It's a special moment, we're grateful for that."

The competition between the Dowell brothers, particularly between the twins, has fueled them to be the best that they possibly can and to always be the best versions of themselves.

"It's always a competition when you are brothers. The biggest thing with being a twin is you're constantly compared to that person no matter what. We always call it a good competition, as it motivates each of us. We're always pushing each other," Dowell said. "We also know we're going to be the first person to celebrate with that person when they make a play. It's never a bad competition sort of thing. It's been great for us ever since we were in little league going at each other."

If you look closely during games, you may realize that at the end of every play, Andrew and David are next to each other, giving each other high fives and celebrating with one another.

"It's really cool, your twin is playing right behind you on the field," Dowell said. "I saw a tweet the other day that said, 'I don't know how it happens but I always see the Dowell brothers next to each other at the end of each play,' because we're always celebrating with each other. He makes a play, I'm happy for him. I make a play, he's happy for me. We're glad to make our team better at the same time."

While there is competition between the brothers, they are also each other's biggest supporters. When David saw successes last year in his breakout season, Andrew was the first one to celebrate with him on the field and the first to praise him. But Andrew also saw it as David pushing him to be better.

"I think it's the same place as that competitive nature. He was first-team All-Big Ten last year and I'm like, 'Shoot, I want some of that too.' He's pushing me to work harder," said Dowell, who ranked second on the team with a career-high 74 tackles last season. "We keep trying to one-up each other and so we're both very successful."

Dowell's journey began as a true freshman in 2015, where he was one of six true freshmen to earn a letter for the Spartans, including having a team-high 10 tackles on special teams.

After two years of hard work and determination, Dowell was able to start all 13 games at Star linebacker and be a key player on the Spartan defense last season.

"It's going to have its ups and downs and that's what I keep reminding my little brother. You're going to have your highs, and you're going to have your lows but you've just got to stay consistent throughout the entire thing," Dowell said. "It's been a big thing for me to try to make my last year my best year."

Working toward making his last year his best year is becoming a reality, as he now has 32 starts in his career, including a team-best 27 in a row, as part of playing in 49 career games. He already has 85 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, adding seven pass break-ups on the season. He leads the team in total tackles, as well as assists with 50, while ranking fourth on the team with 35 solo stops, and third on the team in both tackles for loss and sacks, also among the Big Ten leaders, ranking 12th in the Big Ten in total tackles and tied for 13th in tackles per game.

"David's success motivated me for this year. He had great success, and I want some of that same success. Just making big plays, you want to make your parents proud. My little brother, he's looking up to me," Dowell said. "There's motivation everywhere just be the best you, to try to achieve greatness, play for the team and put it on for my guys and everyone that looks up to me. There's motivation everywhere and I'm just trying to take it all in and put my best resume together this year."

As one of the experienced players on the Spartan squad and defensive side of the ball, Dowell is able to take on a new role as a mentor this season, which is a role he has embraced.

"It's cool being a mentor now. I talk to Jeslord (Boateng) all the time, Chris (Jackson), a bunch of the younger guys," Dowell said. "I'm able to coach them up, tell them little things, 'do this, don't do that,' to make them a better player. Before, I've had guys help me with that so it's sort of like passing the torch down almost, while also still trying to perform to my highest ability."

From being on the receiving end of advice to now having people look up to him, Dowell has not only become a member of the team's Eagle Leadership Council, but he has also channeled what he's learned from his mentors and his experiences thus far to be a role model for the younger players.

"The guy off the top of my head is Darien Harris. He's a great leader, played the same position as me," Dowell said. "He coached me up and I try to deliver what I've learned from him and then also what I've gathered from my own time here and help give that on to the younger guys."

Having the opportunity to pass the torch to his brothers and the younger players on the team has made a tremendous difference in his own development and has been rewarding for the senior.

"It's helped me mature as a man, as well as a football player. From your freshman and sophomore year to your junior or senior year, you go from a guy that looks up to people to now guys are looking up to you. That's a special thing in itself," Dowell said. "You never really realize that transition when it's happening, it's just like, 'oh he's actually looking up to me, he's asking me questions,' That's special, it's an honor and you just try to make the most of it."

With the time toward graduation coming closer and closer, Dowell will be the first of his three brothers to graduate from Michigan State, a legacy that he will start for the family when he walks across the stage and receives his degree in advertising.

"That would be the best legacy I could leave. Whatever my path is, to make the path smoother for them," said Dowell of brothers David and Michael. "We are twins and there's no big brother, little brother sort of thing between me and David but whatever it is, a failure of mine or success of mine, can make it easier for him or easier for Michael, that's all that I could ask for as a legacy."

The tools that Michigan State University and being a Michigan State football player have given him, in addition to his ability to graduate in three and a half years, will prepare Dowell for whatever the future holds – both on and off the football field.

Through it all, Dowell knows that he has his family to fall back on, as they are his biggest supporters. The competition between the Dowell brothers is strong, but the support and love they have for each other is even greater and that is their best strength.

Related News

Players Mentioned

Andrew Dowell

Related Videos