Kentucky has scored 12 touchdowns and running back Seth McGowan has seven of them. (Vicky Graff Photo)
If you are trying to find a positive for Kentucky football after four games, it has to be running back Jeff Pierce.
The New Mexico State transfer has rushed for 393 yards on 68 carries — 5.7 yards per carry — and seven touchdowns in UK’s four games. As a team, Kentucky only has 12 touchdowns and no other player has scored twice.
“McGowan has been a pleasant surprise. That is something you can build on,” said UK Radio Network analyst Jeff Piecoro. “But you have got to find something to compliment McGowan somewhere on this offense.”
He ran 17 times for 112 yards and one touchdown in the 35-13 loss at South Carolina. It was his second straight 100-yard game and third of his collegiate career. McGowan is the first UK player with at least 75 yards rushing and a touchdown rushing in each of the first four games of the season since George Adams in 1984.
His seven touchdowns rushing are the most through four games by a UK player since Benny Snell in 2018.
“He’s a good football player, he really is,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said after the South Carolina loss. “He was a little banged up through that game and fought through it. He’s a tough player. He was hurting and not as effective in the second half.”
McGowan scored on a 20-yard run on Kentucky’s first series at South Carolina and felt UK had a winning plan.
“That first drive we got to establish ourselves and show what this offense is about,” McGowan said Saturday. “We just have to be consistent. We have to be ready for those four-quarter battles and we didn’t do that today.
“You can’t give them the ball back like that and we paid for that. We are not necessarily disappointed. Our minds are already on next week (at Georgia). We got to be ready for that. That is kind of where my mind is at.”
He knew the fumble and interception returns for touchdowns forced UK to “deviate” from its game plan when a 10-7 lead turned into a 21-10 deficit in 45 seconds in the second quarter.
“We got to have fight in us no matter what the score is,” McGowan said on the UK Radio Network. “It means a lot to me to help bring success to this team. That’s all I ever want to do and all I aim to do. I want to bring as much success to the program as I can whether it is on special teams or whatever. Put me on defense. I really do not care. Whatever the role might be that will help us win, that’s all I care about.
“I am going to go back and look and see something I could have done better (against South Carolina). I don’t focus on the highlights. I focus on the lowlights and try to improve.”
SEC Network analyst Jordan Rodgers believes Kentucky has a legitimate star in McGowan.
“Seth is the most explosive player for this offense. He just adds a different element to this offense. He is explosive and physical,” Rodgers said.
McGowan knows UK now starts the most difficult part of its schedule beginning with Georgia Saturday. He’s confident the Cats can bounce back.
“At the end of the day it is never about the opponent. It is about us, what we are doing and the style of play we are coming with every snap,” he said. “It starts away from practice. God put me in this position to help lead guys and influence them beyond their career about how to be a true team player and put your best foot forward.”
