“It’s been a journey to get here.” Seth McGowan is putting that lightly.
A once-promising blue chip recruit who starred as a true freshman for Oklahoma nearly spent decades in prison. The mistake that derailed his life put what matters into focus. Throughout the years of retribution, he prioritized the process. Now, he’s ready to show results in the SEC.
The Big Mistake
McGowan was a four-star, top 200 recruit from Texas when he signed to play for Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma. During his true freshman campaign, he totaled 571 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns. More than 100 of those yards came in a Cotton Bowl win over Florida. His future looked bright at Oklahoma until one fateful night in Norman.
In April of 2021, McGowan, wide receiver Trejan Bridges, and running back Mikey Henderson stole marijuana, jewelry, high-dollar shoes, cash, and other personal property from a Norman apartment. All three were arrested and all three were kicked off the team. McGowan was initially charged with robbery, conspiracy and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
“It was difficult. At some point, I was facing like 70 years,” he recalled in a conversation with KSR.
He eventually pleaded guilty to lesser charges and was sentenced to one year of probation in April 2024 after spending three months in jail.
It took three years for McGowan to learn his fate from that fateful mistake. During one of those, he didn’t play any football at all. In 2022, he enrolled at Texas College. It took time for him to earn trust from the program, but he eventually found his way onto the field at the HBCU that plays in the NAIA.
A year later, he made the move to Butler Community College. In six games, he scored four touchdowns, enough for New Mexico State to take a chance on him. Last fall, he played with a torn pec in Las Cruces. Despite the injury, he started in 11 games and led the Aggies in rushing with 813 yards.
“I’m a man of faith and I know that worrying doesn’t do anything for anybody,” McGowan said. “I transformed all of those negative emotions and anxiety and put it in my craft, continued at the game, and continued doing what I love. I kept making the right next step — the right next step, the right next step — and before you know it, you look up and you’ll be at the right place with the right people at the right time.”
The Connection that got him to Kentucky
McGowan didn’t know the right place would be at Kentucky. Through all of his ups and downs, Jay Boulware continually checked in on him. Boulware recruited him to Oklahoma out of high school, many years before he became the running backs coach at Kentucky.
That relationship gave Mark Stoops confidence that, despite McGowan’s rap sheet, he could be the right fit at Kentucky.
“He’s really come a long way. He’s learned,” said the Kentucky head coach. “He made a mistake, and so he has to make the most of it. He’s been a very good addition. I love his personality. He’s fun, energetic, does his job, and he’s dynamic.”
Lessons that will make McGowan a Successful Wildcat
Maturity is the word used most frequently to describe this Kentucky football team. You’ll often hear coaches say that the best lessons come from mistakes. McGowan’s mistakes made him a more spiritual person, one who lives in the present.
“I think God just kinda slowed me down. The way I was at the time, the way that I was living was not sustainable. At the time, I was too immature to see that,” he said.
“Obviously, having a lot of time to reflect and a little bit of spiritual freedom to explore myself and explore life. Man, being able to walk into a NAIA program, or a JUCO program, or even a program like New Mexico State, to take everything I learned from that whole time and to be able to apply it to the team, that’s what I’ve enjoyed. It’s made it worth it.”
As soon as he arrived in Lexington, McGowan wowed his new Kentucky teammates and coaches. Mark Stoops described him as a “pro” and a “big-time player,” high praise for a man who isn’t quick to dish it out in the preseason.
You might say that McGowan’s best trait is his explosiveness. You could also commend his physicality, but neither of those is the correct answer. He is a talented athlete who is driven to make the most out of his opportunity for redemption.
“Everyday I’m cheesing. Everyday I’m smiling. I’m all in on this season. I’m excited,” McGowan told KSR.
“This is the most confident I’ve been in any season in any year that I’ve played football in my entire life, just because I know the group of guys we have. And I know what I’m coming with: Late nights, studying, up early in the film room, working out constantly, just because that’s the only thing on my mind. It’s the only thing that’s on my heart. It’s nothing short of a blessing.”
