After numerous off-field incidents, former Michigan State Spartan defensive tackle Malik McDowell is potentially getting a second chance at an NFL career.
Field Yates of ESPN reported on Wednesday that the Miami Dolphins are giving McDowell a tryout.
An interesting tryout for the Dolphins: former Seahawks DT Malik McDowell, the 2017 second round pick out of Michigan State that never played in a game for Seattle.
Talent was never an issue for him coming out of Michigan State.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 21, 2020
McDowell was a second round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2017 NFL Draft but has yet to play a down in the league after his career was derailed by off-field incidents — starting with an ATV crash shortly after he was drafted. Injuries from that crash eventually led to McDowell being waived by the Seahwaks in 2018, and McDowell has ran into legal trouble since then, including being arrested for fighting an officer in 2019. That incident led to McDowell being sentenced to three months in jail last November.
McDowell played at Michigan State from 2014 to 2016, racking up 88 total tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and one interception — that was also returned for a touchdown — in 32 career games.
As Yates pointed out in his tweet, talent has never been an issue for McDowell so if he’s gotten his off the field issues under control then there’s a chance he could have an impact for the Dolphins.
