Hello everyone, and welcome back to our position-by-position look at Mark Stoops’ 13th Wildcat squad. Our first installment featured the quarterbacks led by transfer Zach Calzada. Today we’re staying in the backfield. A season ago, the Wildcats didn’t have a player hit 1,000 yards on the ground. That’s something which hasn’t happened often at Kentucky over the last few years. Heading into the new season, Stoops and offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan hope a mix of transfers and returning players can get the Wildcat rushing attack to be one of the best in the SEC. If that happens UK should improve on last year’s 4-8 disaster. Let’s introduce you to the room with the 2025 Kentucky Fall Camp: Running Backs.
Looking For More Production In 2025
Transfers Leading The Way
At Kentucky’s recent open practices, two players from the portal led the way. Seth McGowan looks like the RB1 heading into the season opener on August 30th. If you don’t know his story, allow us to share it with you.
Going back to 2020, the Mesquite, Texas native was a highly coveted player who signed with the University of Oklahoma. In fact current Wildcat running backs coach Jay Boulware recruited him. As a freshman, he gained 370 yards and scored three touchdowns to go along with 13 receptions.
However, in May 2021, he was charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. After spending three months in jail, he didn’t play football in 2021. He played small college ball the next two years. Last season, he returned to Division 1 football at New Mexico State. He finished fifth in Conference USA with 823 yards to go along with three touchdowns. In addition, he hauled in 23 passes and three more scores.
The other transfer vying for the top running back spot is Dante Dowdell. The junior was one of the Cats’ big pickups during the winter portal season. He comes to Lexington by way of the University of Nebraska. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Dowdell originally signed with Oregon coming out of high school in Mississippi.
He appeared in six games during his freshman year in Eugene, rushing for 90 yards and a score. Dowdell transferred to Nebraska for 2024, putting up good numbers. He led the team with 614 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. That number put him fourth in the Big Ten. Dowdell was one of the best short-yardage backs in the league last season.
He ranked as the 14th-best running back in the transfer portal.
Continuing on with the 2025 Kentucky Fall Camp: Running Backs, let’s look at two more players trying to crack the rotation.
Pushing For Playing Time
A season ago Jamarion Wilcox led the Wildcats in rushing with 590 yards. In addition, his 6.4-yard average per rush put him second in the SEC. However, heading into 2025 he sits third on the depth chart behind McGowan and Dowdell.
Wilcox has all the tools to big a major star in the league. But there were some issues with dependability and ball control, and an even stranger one. Head coach Mark Stoops lamented halfway through the season he couldn’t play Wilcox because of his shoes. According to the UK headman, he wouldn’t tie his shoes, no really. When he’d make a good play, he’d have to come out because his shoes came off. They got that straightened out and Wilcox played a lot more down the stretch.
Jason Patterson played in four games as a freshman last season. He saw a lot of touches in the early part of the year. His high-water mark was 45 yards in the Wildcats’ loss to South Carolina. Unfortunately, he missed quite a few games due to injury. He only produced stats in one other game, gaining 38 yards against Auburn.
Along with those two, Kentucky also has redshirt freshman Tovani Mizell. The 2024 recruit missed all of his senior season in high school due to a knee injury. He didn’t see any playing time last season.
Final Thoughts
As we mentioned in the beginning, Stoops’ best teams have all had a strong running game. After falling off last season, the Big Blue needs a great season from one of the backs on the depth chart. McGowan and Dowdell look to carry a lot of the load, but Wilcox is certainly a wild card. Thanks for checking out the 2025 Kentucky Fall Camp: Running Backs here at Last Word On College Football. Next time, we’ll look at the receivers.
Main Image: Syndication: The Courier-Journal
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