Dante Dowdell (UK Athletics Photo)
Should it worry Kentucky football fans that the two big, physical backs — Dante Dowdell of Nebraska and Seth McGowan of New Mexico State — were non-factors in UK’s first scrimmage last week?
“They didn’t get a lot today,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said after Saturday’s scrimmage. “Those two have played a lot of football and they’re going to get quite a few reps and some physical tackling this year.
“Their bodies are going to take a beating as you go through the year and we needed to see some of the other guys.”
The “other” guys were Jamarion Wilcox, who averaged almost six yards per carry last season, and Jason Patterson. They came out of the 2024 season as UK’s top two running backs before Dowdell arrived in the spring and became No. 1. Then McGowan joined the Cats after the spring semester ends but despite missing spring practice now seems to be No. 1 with Dowdell at No. 2.
“JP showed up today,” Stoops said about Patterson after the scrimmage. “I thought he made some people miss, he’s a tough runner. His vision was good.”
Cornerback JQ Hardaway was full of praise for Patterson after the scrimmage.
“He had a great day today. Patterson looked great out there carrying the ball. He definitely got a little something on him that I didn’t know he had,” Hardaway said.
Quarterback Zach Calzada wouldn’t single out any running back but made it clear he understands how important a productive run game could be to him and UK’s offense.
“I think that our run game is going to set the tempo and as a quarterback, the run game is your best friend. Being able to just let those guys do their thing and manage the game. Then when my time comes to take shots and let those receivers make plays downfield, they’ll be ready.”.
7 Responses
Smart move even tho I think last year Chip Traynam was way overrated. When he actually did play he looked to slow to be a running back in the SEC. Dowdell and McGowan have more speed. They are also better at timing the hole and cuts.
The “other” guys were Jamarion Wilcox, who averaged almost six yards per carry last season”
The best running & only highly productive running back last season is just “another guy” because the HC did not him. Regardless of the reasons, Wilcox was a rare bright light on offense, often digging UK out of a hole with a 12 to 20 yard run & them benched until that series ended.
Barney didn't call me, but I might have preferred to see Mark Fox's extension applied to Stoops buyout.
The honorable and fair thing to do is to cut Barney’s salary & enforce reimbursement for wasted funds on him & apply it to buyout Stoops at a discount. Get rid of both of them! Stoops should be guilty of breaking his contract due to dereliction of duty. He was paid over &2 Million per win last season – probably the highest pay/win in the nation!
A lot of folks throw a lot of shade at Barnhart. He is responsible for more than the football program. Did he lay a boner with Stoops? Yes. Has he elevated the rest of UK athletics in a significant manner? Yes. He is over the entire athletic department, not just football and basketball. We may very well have another NCAA champion volleyball team this year if everyone can stay healthy!
The Sporting News rated all SEC starting quarterbacks. Calzada came in at No. 15….when does basketball season start?
I thought Boyer was proclaimed to be the future for UK FB starting in 2025. Now he is seldom mentioned. Bringing in outsiders worked at QB 1 time & that was with an elite OC, who quickly became a HC just a couple years after he left due to incompetent control of the offense by the UK OC.
If Coen had been unshackled (as probably promised when he returned), he would be leading the UK offense to record setting scoring instead of UK stumbling to 4-8. It’s not easy to be powerfully enough to run off a winner OC it lifetime contracts eliminate accountability,
Stoops paid over $2 million per win last season.
Is a raise due?