The running back position in this draft class has some overlooked talent, and Seth McGowan may be the frontrunner of that group. With some early off-field concerns that appear to be in his past, it will be interesting to see just what kind of draft value the NFL is going to place on McGowan.
Measurables:
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 223 pounds
Arms: 31.375″
Hands: 8.75″
40-yard: 4.49
Vertical: 42.5″
Broad jump: 10’11”
RAS: 9.63
School: Kentucky
Position: Running Back
Seth McGowan NFL Draft Overview
McGowan was a four-star recruit and the No. 16 running back in the 2020 class. After committing to Oklahoma, Seth made an immediate impact as a true freshman in 2020, appearing in seven games. He rushed 58 times for 370 yards (6.4 yards per carry), three touchdowns, and 13 receptions for 201 yards and a score.
In April 2021, he was dismissed from Oklahoma after an arrest involving robbery, conspiracy, and assault charges. He pled guilty to larceny, served three months in prison, and spent a year on probation. McGowan decided to continue his collegiate career, but needed an obvious reset. In 2023 at Butler Community College, he rushed for 125 yards and four touchdowns in six games while adding five catches for 104 yards.
McGowan revived his career at New Mexico State in 2024, earning second-team All-Conference USA honors. He led the team with 823 rushing yards on 152 carries (5.4 yards per carry), adding three touchdowns across 12 games (11 starts). He also chipped in 23 receptions for 377 yards and three scores. Continuing to rebuild his resume, Seth transferred to Kentucky in 2025 as a redshirt senior and stepped into the lead role. McGowan rushed for 725 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns on 165 carries (4.4 yards per carry) while reeling in 19 receptions for 126 yards.
McGowan finished his college career with 375 carries for 1,918 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns, 55 receptions for 604 yards and four receiving touchdowns.
Strengths
Identifies the lane and moves into it early in the rep
Shows developing patience, followed by an immediate burst into the opening
Possesses good tempo, balance, and the ability to string cuts together
Physical and aggressive between the tackles, displaying good base strength and contact balance
Explosive athleticism
Effective in short-yardage situations
Capable pass protector who squares up blitzers
Weaknesses
Will sometimes hesitate too long before making decisions
Ball-security concerns with five fumbles over the last two seasons
Will turn 25 in his rookie season, reflecting his tire tread as a collegiate athlete
Projection: Day 3
Best Fits:Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants
Bottom Line on Seth McGowan
With an athletic profile similar to David Johnson of Northern Iowa, the physical gifts are present for McGowan to make an immediate impact on Sundays. If drafted into a situation where he can learn to utilize his patience in following the blocking in front of him, there is a sneaky upside here that can reward a crafty offensive coordinator with returns surpassing his draft selection spot.
Some may look at his past as too much of a red flag to take a shot on him with anything higher than a 6th or 7th round pick, but all it takes is for one coaching staff to view the playmaking ability as too much to let slide past early on Day 3.