Transfer Portal Bio Blast: Seth McGowan

The spring transfer portal window officially opened on Wednesday. We did not have to wait long to see Kentucky add to the 2025 roster. We’ve seen some player movement and are expecting more over the next few days. Teams are working rapidly to get targets on campus for visits over the next few weeks to close these fast-paced recruitments.

Kentucky added another running back to the roster on Sunday afternoon. Former Oklahoma tailback Seth McGowan will play for Kentucky in 2025 after a one-year stop at New Mexico State.

New Kentucky RB Seth McGowan on his official visit to Kentucky. #Committed

(IG | godfirst.seth) pic.twitter.com/KC77iFYJhF

— KSR (@KSRonX) April 20, 2025

KSR’s Transfer Portal Bio Blast is taking a closer look at the C-USA tailback transfer who has had a long road back to power conference football.

Blue-chip Texas recruit lands at Oklahoma

Seth McGowan was 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 had a legitimate blue-chip recruitment.

Georgia and Oklahoma got the tailback on campus for an official visit before a June commitment was recorded by Lincoln Riley‘s staff. Texas A&M and USC were also finalists in this high-profile recruitment.

I Rolled The Dice And Watched Them Bet On Everyone But Me… All I Can Say Is Bless Up… 🎲🖤 Boomer… #AGTG #TMC #FTG @CoachJ_Boulware @LincolnRiley @PoteetRecruits @KodyGroves @rwmclain @smcgowan601 @DP2Nice @malikjefferson pic.twitter.com/PBmfpR2nBb

— Seth McGowan (@Sjmcg_28) June 6, 2019

McGowan enrolled at Oklahoma in the 2020-21 school year and earned playing time as a true freshman during the COVID-19 season. The young tailback appeared in seven games and rushed for 370 yards on 6.4 yards per rush. McGowan also chipped in 13 receptions for 201 yards. McGowan had a big performance in a Cotton Bowl win over Florida.

McGowan was expected to have a very large role for the Oklahoma offense in 2021.

Off-field arrest starts a long journey

During spring practice ahead of the 2021 season, Seth McGowan’s career at Oklahoma ended prematurely. The talented young tailback was dismissed from the Sooner program by Lincoln Riley due to armed robbery arrest. McGowan would eventually plea guilty to larceny and was sentenced to a year of probation. The tailback has recently gone on record about the event.

That has created a long journey back to college football.

McGowan sat out the 2021 season before enrolling at Butler Community College in 2023. The tailback then transferred to New Mexico State in 2024 where he rushed for 838 yards and chipped in 23 receptions while scoring six total touchdowns playing in the C-USA.

After entering the winter transfer portal, McGowan backed out after New Mexico State offered an NIL raise but that did not stop the tailback from entering free agency again in the spring and quickly committing to Kentucky.

NMSU football HC Tony Sanchez gave us some insight into the recruiting battles for RB Seth McGowan and OL Shiyazh Pete.

NMSU managed to get its leading rusher from 2024 back for another season but lost an important piece of its offensive line to Kentucky.

Earlier in the press… pic.twitter.com/kiXwD1R1IV

— Sam Guzman (@SamGuzmanTV) February 6, 2025

Luckett’s scouting notebook

Seth McGowan (6-1, 220) has played two seasons of FBS football and brings 1,193 rushing yards on 5.7 yards per rush, 36 receptions, and 10 total touchdowns to Lexington. The transfer is a big tailback with a diverse skill set.

This is my scouting write-up on the running back transfer.

Seth McGowan is a downhill runner who does a good job of making one cut and finding daylight. The tailback does not have brekaway speed and can be rundown from behind. 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 some 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 with good size who fits Kentucky’s gap-heavy 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.