As the Kentucky football program looks for a return to the bruising, physical running style that characterized the Wildcats’ offense for so many years, UK is leaning on a pair of first-year transfers to lead the way this fall.
Dante Dowdell, a 6-foot-2, 227-pound junior who started seven games at Nebraska last year, and Seth McGowen, a 6-1, 215-pound senior aiming to get back to high-level college football, have headed up UK’s rushing attack through the early portions of fall camp.
“I think it’ll start with those two big backs we brought in,” UK offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan said at media day. “Certainly, from a physicality standpoint, you’ll see they’re big, thick, strong backs.
“Consistency’s going to be critical, but I think everything’s going to go through the two big backs to start.”
Dowdell transferred to Kentucky after tallying 614 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games with Nebraska. Before that, the former four-star recruit appeared in six games as a true freshman at Oregon. Dowdell chose the Cats in December and spent spring camp in Lexington.
McGowan, meanwhile, joined UK after spring practice at New Mexico State — and by his own words, it was “a journey” to get to Lexington.
As a four-star recruit out of Texas, McGowan signed with Oklahoma and had a successful freshman campaign with the Sooners. However, in April 2021, McGowan and two teammates were arrested and kicked off the team after stealing marijuana, jewelry, shoes, cash and other items from an apartment. McGowan later pled guilty to lesser charges and was sentenced to a year of probation after spending three months in jail.
Stops at Texas College and Butler Community College followed before McGowan landed at New Mexico State, where he rushed for 823 yards with three touchdowns and averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2024. He…
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Publish date : 2025-08-09 03:59:00
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