Seth McGowan’s Journey from Setback to Redemption with Kentucky Football

Once a standout freshman at Oklahoma in 2020 with nearly 600 total yards and four touchdowns, McGowan’s future seemed bright. But that promise unraveled in April 2021 when he and two teammates were involved in a robbery involving stolen marijuana, cash, jewelry, and designer shoes. One of the accomplices was armed, and the trio was hit with serious charges, including robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon. Eventually, McGowan pled guilty to a lesser felony—nighttime larceny—and served three months in jail followed by probation. His dismissal from Oklahoma was swift, a painful moment made worse by how close he had been to head coach Lincoln Riley. “That conversation crushed me,” McGowan admitted. “That’s when I knew I had really messed up.”

The road back to football relevance was long and uncertain. No team was willing to take him in 2021 due to his legal status. He finally found a home at Texas College, an NAIA program led by former Sooner Jarrail Jackson. There, McGowan slowly rebuilt trust, sitting out the first part of the season to prove he was serious about turning things around. By 2023, he was at Butler Community College in Kansas, where he continued to grind and develop, showing flashes of the talent that once made him a blue-chip recruit.

Still, options remained limited. Determined to find a way, McGowan revisited old connections and reached out to Syracuse offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon, who had once recruited him years prior while at Baylor. Though Nixon couldn’t offer him a roster spot at Syracuse, he introduced McGowan to David Cobb, running backs coach at New Mexico State. Cobb took a chance on him, and that gamble paid off.

In 2024, McGowan delivered a breakout season with the Aggies, posting 823 rushing yards, 277 receiving yards, and six total touchdowns. He was named second-team All-Conference USA and impressed with his performance against Texas A&M, rushing for 75 yards in a single game. After briefly entering the transfer portal in December, McGowan stayed loyal to New Mexico State—at first. But with one year of eligibility remaining and dreams of the NFL still alive, he reentered the portal after spring and committed to Kentucky, reuniting with running backs coach Jay Boulware, who had originally recruited him to Oklahoma.

For McGowan, the decision wasn’t about disloyalty. “It was about doing what’s best for me and my family,” he said. “Leaving didn’t reflect negatively on the staff or my relationships at New Mexico State.”

Now with the Wildcats, McGowan is turning heads in offseason training. Head coach Mark Stoops has praised his explosiveness and maturity, and insiders say he may be the frontrunner to start in a talented backfield rotation that includes Nebraska transfer Donte Dowdell and returnees Jamarion Wilcox and Jason Patterson.

But McGowan’s impact may go well beyond his play on the field. Having lived through a legal crisis, three years away from D1 football, and the loss of his brother to suicide, he now embraces a deeper purpose—mentoring younger teammates. “I recognize guys who need guidance,” he said. “Sometimes they’re just lost like I was. They haven’t had anyone to show them the right way.”

McGowan watches for subtle warning signs in others—players who show up unprepared, who leave workouts early, or who cut corners in drills. He sees those as red flags, not for punishment, but as opportunities to lead. “That’s what veterans are for,” he said. “To help these guys stay on track and reach their potential.”

Despite skepticism from parts of the Kentucky fan base over bringing in a player with a felony record, Stoops stood by the decision, citing both Boulware’s trust and the broader support system. McGowan’s experience and transformation align with the team’s goal of restoring its tough, disciplined culture.

“He’s really matured,” Stoops said. “He made a mistake, but he’s learned from it—and now he has a chance to make the most of what’s ahead.”