Bush Hamdan believes Kentucky's new running backs are ready to match SEC physicality

Two new faces are expected to lead Kentucky’s backfield this season: New Mexico State transfer Seth McGowan and Nebraska transfer Dante Dowdell. After giving the offensive line some very high praise at the Lexington Kickoff Luncheon on Monday, offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan also predicted big things for the guys running behind it, telling fans that McGowan and Dowdell’s physicality is on par with the rest of the SEC.

“I think the biggest thing about that running back room is just the size and physicality of both those guys,” Hamdan said of the incoming transfers. “I don’t think we’re going to travel anywhere and feel like we can’t bring that type of physicalness to the game.”

McGowan started his college career at Oklahoma, where he appeared in seven games, rushed for 370 yards, totaled 201 receiving yards on 13 catches, and scored four touchdowns. After an off-field arrest, he spent some time at the junior college level and returned to FBS last season at New Mexico State, where he tallied 823 yards and three touchdowns on 152 carries and three more touchdowns on 23 receptions. McGowan was a late addition to Kentucky’s roster, joining during the spring transfer portal window, and is expected to be a starter. Hamdan isn’t the only one singing his praises after summer workouts.

“He’s a big-time player,” Stoops said of McGowan on Monday. “He’s a big-time player. He’s good in a lot of areas. He’s explosive. He’s got a lot of experience. He’s dynamic.”

Same for Dowdell, who comes to Kentucky from Nebraska, where he totaled a team-high 614 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns last season. This will be the 6’2″, 227 lbs. tailback’s third college stop. He started his college career at Oregon. The SEC is the most physical conference in college football, but both Hamdan and Stoops believe Dowdell has the size and power to churn out yards in tough situations. Last year, he was the best short-yardage tailback in college football.

“Man, he’s everything we thought,” Stoops said of Dowdell. “He’s a really physical guy and a really good player.”

“We went out and identified Dante Dowdell, who was a guy who’s played a lot of football and had success, and brings a physical element to his game,” Hamdan said.

Of the three other scholarship running backs on the roster, Jamarion Wilcox earned the most praise from his coaches on Monday. As a redshirt freshman, Wilcox led Kentucky in rushing last season with 590 yards on 92 carries for two touchdowns; however, he was his own worst enemy at times, drawing Stoops’ ire for lapses in maturity and dependability, most memorably losing his cleats during games because he didn’t tie his shoelaces. Thankfully, Stoops says Wilcox has taken a big step forward this offseason, which is welcome news because the team needs his explosiveness.

“I’m proud of Jamarion,” Stoops said. “He’s really improved and gotten better. And he’s one — that kind of mentality that I’ve talked about, kind of just put his head down, has been quiet, just been working…He’s a guy who just physically is getting better, and there are good players around him, and so there’s good depth there.”

Redshirt freshmen Jason Patterson and Tovani Mizell round out the running back room. Patterson only played in four games last season, preserving his redshirt. Mizell wasn’t fully cleared for contact until the middle of last season due to a knee injury he suffered during his senior year of high school. With McGowan and Dowdell at the forefront of the room, the younger running backs will have more runway to develop this fall.

“We’ve got some of those young backs who I think are going to be in a good position to have a role and continue to build it and go from there,” Hamdan said.

Just a little bit longer until we get to see Kentucky’s ground game in action.

Subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel for press conferences, interviews, original shows, fan features, and exclusive content.