Seth McGowan (Instagram Photo)
Jamarion Wilcox showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman with his speed and big-play ability at running back. Jason Patterson also played well as a freshman before being slowed by injuries but Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has praised his potential to be an every down player.
However, the two Kentucky returning running backs have to be wondering about their status for the 2025 season. First, UK added Nebraska transfer Dante Dowdell, a power back with surprising speed, who seemed to come out of spring practice as the No. 1 back.
Then Sunday the Cats added New Mexico State running back Seth McGowan, a top 200 recruit nationally in the 2019 class who has had his troubles in college, three days after he entered the transfer portal.
McGowan rushed for 823 yards and three scores last season at New Mexico State while averaging 5.4 yards per run. He ranked in the top seven in Conference USA in runs of both 20 plus and 30 plus yards. McGowan also had 23 pass receptions for 277 yards and three more scores. He earned second team all-conference honors.
The new UK running back started his career at Oklahoma playing for current UK running backs coach Jay Boulware. He had a solid freshman year running for 370 yards and three scores while averaging 6.4 yards per attempt and had 13 catches for 201 yards and another touchdown. In the 2020 Cotton Bowl he had a 73-yard run and a 47-yard reception in a 35-point win over Florida.
His time at Oklahoma ended when he was arrested for robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He pleaded guilty to larceny and other charges were dismissed. McGowan was one of three Oklahoma players dismissed from the team after the incident.
He did not play football in 2021 and for the 2022 season he was at Texas College, an NAIA program, where he worked on raising his grades and even worked as an on-field coach helping teammates.
In 2023, he ran for 125 yards and four scores in six games at Butler Community College and had 104 yards on five receptions. The 6-1, 220-pound running back from Mesquite, Texas, has one year of eligibility remaining.
