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Kentucky hit gold in the running back transfer portal two years ago with Ray Davis — who is now with the Buffalo Bills — came to UK from Vanderbilt.
Now the Cats certainly seem to have done that again with Seth McGowan, a one-time Oklahoma signee and a transfer from New Mexico State.
He had a career-high-tying 18 carries for 104 yards —his second 100-plus yard game — and a career-high three touchdowns in last week’s win over Eastern Michigan. The last time UK had a player with three rushing touchdowns — Davis on Sept. 30, 2023, against Florida.
McGowan became the first UK player with at least 75 yards rushing and a touchdown rushing in each of the first three games of the season since Derrick Locke in 2010.
He is also the first UK player – since at least 1984 – with six rushing touchdowns in the first three games of the season. His six rushing scores leads the Southeastern Conference and ranks second in FBS.
“Seth has been very steady. He’s been very efficient this year and he runs very tough,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said after last week’s win. “He’s a guy that runs with a lot of energy. He’s kind of wild with the way he runs. I don’t know what’s gonna to come out, you know? It’s between him and God.
“He’s been running very tough. Very tough yards when he has to but also will make some very drastic cuts and moves. I’m very pleased with the way he’s playing too.”
McGowan’s play earned him honorable mention Player of the Week by the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award that is presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding Division I offensive player who graduated from a Texas high school or plays at a four-year college in Texas. McGowan is a Texas native.
“Creating a lot of explosives in the last game really opened up a good run for this game. We just have to continue to keep establishing that identity of staying ahead of the change and playing our brand of football,” McGowan said after the win.
McGowan said the explosive plays UK produced last week are “absolutely vital” to a successful offense.
“We are going to establish the run. When we get to some of those bigger bodies on the interior of some of those road games and tougher opponents, it poses a challenge. I think what we’ve all been seeing since summer, and what has all of the coaches excited about this season, is the game that was played tonight,” McGowan said.
6 Responses
He is a wild runner. Is the only way to put it. I don't even think the offensive line knows we're McGowan is going to run too. It's like he moves every ligament in his body. I've never seen a running style like his, he's not necessarily a power runner but he's not a fast back either. He's in the middle of both. Patterson is the same way. Not a power runner but not a speed back either. Wilcox is a speed back and Dowdell is a power back. Patterson and McGowan are both especially McGowan. Patterson is more of a traditional running back. We need McGowan to improve every week. So far he has done just that. If he can have a breakout game against South Carolina and the QB can at least throw over 50% and move the chains we can beat South Carolina especially if they lose to Missouri there playoff hopes will go down the drain and the team will not be as motivated when they play Kentucky. We will be 2-1 they should be 2-2 maybe 3-1. If they beat Missouri they might beat us. Lose to Missouri and the wheels will fall off early. If we beat South Carolina I doubt they will even make a bowl game. If we beat them they will be 2-3 with 4-5 hard games in a row. Idk nobody expected this to begin the year. All I heard was Sellers was a heisman candidate and South Carolina was a playoff team. Haha how 4 weeks change a season.
Has anyone heard that Stoops is gong to be the highest paid coach in NCAA football. I'm hearing some rumblings about it
Nothing is on merit anymore.
True
Kirby Smart 13.3 million. You can't believe everything you read on the internet. More lies than truths.
Without McGowan, this season would already have been over.