Dowling is a tall, lean and impressive free safety that covers the deep ball as good as anybody in the class. He has great height and carries his weight well as he roams the secondary. Exceptional pass defender that has super instincts and outstanding ball skills. Rarely out of position as a free safety and isn't out flanked by receivers. Reads route progression to perfection and takes great angles to make plays on the intermediate and deep passes. Possesses tremendous leaping ability to go along with his long arms to high point the football with regularity. Displays sure and soft hands and is reliable and confident coming down with the football in a crowd or going one on one with wide-outs. Very alert to play action passes; doesn't take the run fake. Both fast and quick for such a tall player; a real threat to bring the interception back all the way. Needs to be a more reliable openfield tackler when coming up on run support. Doesn't play the run as confidently as the pass. Shows confidence and courage as a punt blocker; long arms and quickness are huge assets getting to the block point. Has the ability to also play wide out as a deep threat; outstanding takeoff and fade route runner. As on defense, will out-jump the opponent for the football. Dowling is exactly what coaches look for in a pass defending free safety. His range, ball skills, and intelligence make him an excellent field general from the free safety position. Dowling should be very productive early at the next level.