Kentucky players and coaches gushed about New Mexico State transfer Seth McGowan throughout talking season. The tailback was a spring transfer portal addition who immediately impressed once he arrived on campus. All signs pointed to the former blue-chip recruit in the 2020 recruiting cycle opening the year as Kentucky’s starting tailback. Unfortunately, the injury bug […]
Kentucky players and coaches gushed about New Mexico State transfer Seth McGowan throughout talking season. The tailback was a spring transfer portal addition who immediately impressed once he arrived on campus. All signs pointed to the former blue-chip recruit in the 2020 recruiting cycle opening the year as Kentucky’s starting tailback.
Unfortunately, the injury bug has arrived. McGowan was held out of action on Saturday. The veteran did not play in one scrimmage this preseason, but Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops expects the tailback back in the lineup when Toledo rolls into Lexington in two weeks.
“McGowan is out right now. Hopefully, he’ll be back Monday, Tuesday, sometime this week but he’s out right now. Like I said, I don’t anticipate anything long-term there.”
Dante Dowdell was also held out of the scrimmage for the second weekend in a row. Stoops says Kentucky got out of the scrimmage without any major injuries and the head coach feels better about UK’s rushing attack and is optimistic about what it could become this season. Everything has mostly gone to plan this preseason.
Kentucky is currently without a big piece of the offense but is hopeful that Seth McGowan will return sooner rather than later.
Luckett’s Scouting Notebook: Seth McGowan
Over at KSR+, I put together scouting write-ups on each of Kentucky’s transfer additions from the offseason after watching film and collecting data. This is my breakdown of Seth McGowan.
A top-200 prospect and a top-25 player in Texas in the 2020 high school recruiting cycle. The Mesquite (Texas) Poteet rushed for over 3,700 yards and 45 touchdowns during his prep career. McGowan spent one season at Oklahoma when he appeared in seven games, rushed for 370 yards, recorded 201 receiving yards, and scored four touchdowns. Off-field arrest led to some time off and multiple years spent in junior college. Re-emerged at New Mexico State in 2024 where he rushed for 838 yards and chipped in 23 receptions while scoring six total touchdowns.
McGowan is a downhill runner who does a good job of making one cut and finding daylight. The tailback does not have breakaway speed and can be chased down. Does a good job keeping his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage and getting vertical. This leads to some broken tackles (67 missed tackles forced on 210 career carries) and splash runs (17.1% explosive run rate). Flashes contact balance on film. Is a real weapon as a receiver on screens, wheels, and swings out of the backfield. Runs high and can take some shots at the second level. Possesses good leg drive that can create yards after contact.
McGowan is an experienced tailback (1,193 career rushing yards on 5.7 yards per rush, 36 receptions, and 10 total touchdowns) with good size who fits Kentucky’s downhill run scheme. The transfer will also give the offense a receiving option out of the backfield that likely separates him from the rest of the room.
Luckett’s Scouting Notebook: What Kentucky added to roster via the transfer portal
Category: General Sports