Seth McGowan Selected in NFL Draft by Indianapolis Colts
PITTSBURGH – Kentucky senior running back Seth McGowan was chosen by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round (237th overall pick) of the 2026 National Football League Draft on Saturday in Pittsburgh.
McGowan will have a familiar face to block for him, as he joins guard Jalen Farmer, who was drafted by the Colts in the fourth round. McGowan completes UK’s list of four Wildcats picked this year, as center Jager Burton (Green Bay) and wide receiver Kendrick Law (Detroit) were each tabbed in the fifth round.
McGowan played one year at Kentucky and got his season off to a hot start, becoming the first Wildcat with at least 75 yards and a rushing touchdown in each of the first four games since George Adams in 1984. Among those games were 98 yards and two touchdowns against Ole Miss, 104 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in a win over Eastern Michigan, and a season-best 112 yards and a touchdown at South Carolina.
He was slowed by injury in midseason but bounced back with 92 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Florida, followed by 72 yards and three TDs in a win over Tennessee Tech.
For the season, McGowan carried 165 times for 725 yards, a 4.4-yard average, with 12 touchdowns, leading the Wildcats in rushing yards and TDs. He finished the regular season fourth in the Southeastern Conference in rushing TDs and among the top 10 in rushing yardage. An all-around back, McGowan caught 19 passes for 126 yards and also is a capable blocker. Following the season, he was invited to the Panini Senior Bowl and participated in the NFL Combine.
Originally from Mesquite, Texas, McGowan began his collegiate career in 2020 at Oklahoma. He rushed 58 times for 570 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 6.4 yards per carry for the Sooners. He added 13 receptions for 201 yards and one TD. He had a 73-yard run – longest of his collegiate career – and three catches for 70 yards in a Cotton Bowl win over No. 10 Florida.
McGowan missed the next two seasons, returning to the field in 2023 at Butler (Kansas) Community College, running 39 times for 125 yards and touchdowns.
McGowan transferred to New Mexico State for the 2024 season, leading the Aggies in rushing with 813 yards on 153 carries, averaging 5.3 per tote, with three touchdowns. He also hauled in 23 catches for 277 yards and a team-best three touchdowns. He totaled 1,090 combined rushing and receiving yards with six scores and earned second-team All-Conference USA honors. His top game was 113 rushing yards and a touchdown, along with three catches for 47 yards, vs. Western Kentucky.
In McGowan’s three seasons in Division I, he totaled 375 rushes for 1,918 yards and 18 touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He also had 55 receptions for 604 yards and four TDs.
Kentucky/NFL Draft Notes:
- This is the eighth consecutive draft that Kentucky has had at least one player selected (2019-26) and a Wildcat has been chosen in the fourth round or higher in all eight drafts.
- Kentucky has had at least four players selected in five of the last eight drafts, also 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2024.
- This was the third time in the last four years that UK has had a running back selected, also Chris Rodriguez Jr. in 2023 and Ray Davis in 2024.
- McGowan is the 15th Wildcat drafted by the Colts franchise, including Thomas Adkins (1954), Bradley Mills (1956), Sam Ball (1966), Rick Kestner (1966), Dick Palmer (1970), Dan Neal (1973), Dave Margavage (1974), Randy Burke (1977), Dallas Owens (1978), Tim Gooch (1981), Ivy Joe Hunter (1989), Vincent “Sweet Pea” Burns (2005), Jacob Tamme (2008) and Jalen Farmer (2026)
