Former Air Force QB Dee Dowis dies in car accident

Former Air Force quarterback Dee Dowis, who finished sixth in the 1989 Heisman Trophy voting, was killed in an automobile accident in suburban Atlanta on Monday morning. He was 48.

Gwinnett County (Ga.) Police confirmed that Dowis was killed in a two-car accident.

The Air Force Academy issued a statement via Twitter on its website:

"Saddened to hear the passing of Legend Dee Dowis. We want to offer our condolences to his family. RIP #BoltBrother."

A three-year starter in Air Force's triple-option attack, Dowis weighed just 153 pounds but set an NCAA career rushing record for quarterbacks.

As a sophomore, Dowis rushed for 1,315 yards, an NCAA single-season record for quarterbacks that stood for 12 seasons. Dowis ran for 972 yards as a junior, and he rushed for 1,286 yards and passed for 1,285 yards as a senior.

"Pound for pound, he was one of the greatest, most gifted and talented players to have played the college game," former Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry told the Colorado Springs Gazette. "Everybody in America had so much respect for him.

"And as great a player as he was, he was even a greater friend. His life never was about himself. All he wanted in life was to give back. This is just so tragic."