Taco Dowler is joining – and surpassing – some select company in Montana State University history early in the 2025 season. The junior wide receiver has two 100-yard games in the first three games of the year, something only three other players have accomplished since 1968. Of the three, only Dowler has had one of those games against an FBS team.
Dowler hauled down 12 receptions for 107 yards – career highs in both categories against the University of Oregon in the season opener. Then this past week, he surpassed his career high for yards again with 116 on eight catches with two going for touchdowns in a 41-7 win over the University of San Diego.
Dowler’s 12 catches at Autzen Stadium also marked the most catches by a Bobcat since Michael Jefferson caught that many in 2006.
Despite his eye-catching style on the field, Dowler quickly gives credit to others and admits that luck plays a part in his success. This past week, he caught a sweet 32-yard pass from quarterback Justin Lamson in the third quarter that didn’t exactly follow script.
“Ryan King did a really good job,” Dowler said. “He was actually more open on that play than I was. His job is to get me open on that play and Justin just put it in the bucket and I just had to throw my hands out. It felt a little bit like (1993 film) The Sandlot. Just throw your glove up and catch the ball.”
It’s been 20 years since any other Bobcat receiver has had this sort of start. Tramaine Murray had 141 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions in the second week of the 2005 season against Stephen F. Austin, then four grabs for 107 yards the next week against Cal Poly.
The other two are Bobcat legends.
In 2001, Junior Adams, who is best known for scoring the only touchdown when MSU ended its 16-game losing streak against the University of Montana in 2002, caught five passes for 153 yards against Weber and a touchdown in a game that ended an 18-game losing streak that started in 1999. The next game he had nine receptions for 118 yards against Cal Poly.
He finished the 2002 season with 66 catches for 983 yards, marks that are sixth and eighth, respectively, in school history.
Running back David Pandt set the NCAA record for receptions by a running back in a game with 21 against Eastern Washington in the third game of the 1985 season. He would finish with 169 yards and a touchdown. In the season-opener against Portland State, he had 13 (third most in school history) catches for 125 yards and a touchdown. Pandt’s 69 receptions in 1985 put him in third for catches in a season.
Dowler, a 5-9, 170-pound junior out of Billings West, has 24 receptions for 241 yards on the season – both team highs. Those numbers have him sitting in first place in the Big Sky Conference in receptions and fourth in yards. His two touchdowns are tied for third.
“When you get targeted as much as I got targeted today, you should have good numbers,” Dowler said after the San Diego game. “If you turn on the tape and watch my touchdown out of the backfield, the two receivers on the field are blocking their guys into the end zone. It’s not too difficult when you have that type of effort.”
The performance Dowler put on in the season opener against a powerful Oregon outfit, currently ranked No. 6 in the AP poll, is gaining steam in terms of how impressive it was. Through just three games, no team has completed as many passes total as Dowler (12) caught. Oklahoma State only completed seven passes against the Ducks and Northwestern had just 11. MSU tight end Rocky Lencioni has the second most catches in a game against Oregon with four.
The No. 2 team in the FCS, South Dakota State, was up next for the Bobcats and the Jackrabbits paid special attention to Dowler, holding him to just four catches for a scant 18 yards. His first reception saw Dowler take a big hit to his back and MSU predominantly looked elsewhere to move the ball.
Dowler has been making noise for the MSU offense and on special teams since he first arrived in 2022. With just over a minute remaining in a tie game at Northern Arizona during his first season, he broke to an open spot when quarterback Tommy Mellott scrambled out of the pocket toward the right sideline. As he was going out of bounds, Mellott saw Dowler get behind a defender near midfield. Dowler caught the ball in traffic and bolted inside the NAU 20 and MSU moved inside the five before kicking a game-winning field goal as time expired.
Dowler had an electric punt return last season to help the Bobcats secure a key Big Sky Conference win at UC Davis. His touchdown with 1:09 to play in the national championship cut the score down to 35-32.
Caden Dowler is Taco’s twin brother and he’s a captain on the defensive side of the ball playing safety. The duo was dynamic in high school playing both ways and earning all-state accolades in the process on offense and defense at Billings West. Caden was a first-team all-state safety and second-team all-state wide receiver. Taco was first team all-state at wide receiver, defensive back, punt returner and kickoff returner in both his junior and senior seasons. He collected 4,562 all-purpose yards in his career and was named the Montana Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021.
West advanced to the AA state title game in 2020 and 2021, but lost (24-15 and 35-6) both times to Missoula Sentinel, which also has multiple players on the MSU roster.
Dowler is also very generous with his time and kind words. He held a football camp for kids in Billings this summer and is often seeking out charitable work. At the end of Saturday’s press conference, he asked to share a couple words for everyone.
“If you’re watching this right now, do something today or tomorrow to make someone smile,” Dowler said. “I don’t think we have enough of that in the world right now, so makes someone smile. I think that’s really important.”
The Bobcats take on Mercyhurst this Saturday at Bobcat Stadium. Game time is set for 1:00.
