INDIANAPOLIS — Seth McGowan went from blue-chip Oklahoma recruit living the dream to scrubbing restaurant dishes in a nightmare he created himself. For two brutal years, the running back fought through dead-end jobs, endless workouts with zero guarantees, and slammed doors everywhere he turned.
He had no one to blame but himself.
McGowan was booted from Oklahoma and hit with multiple felony charges tied to a 2021 armed robbery and assault in Norman. His former teammate faced similar accusations. McGowan pleaded guilty to larceny, spent three months behind bars, and got a year of probation.
“It cost me everything,” he admitted, the weight still heavy in his voice.
But now? The Indianapolis Colts just handed him a stunning seventh-round lifeline in the 2026 NFL Draft — and the drama-filled comeback has everyone talking. Behind superstar Jonathan Taylor (who carried an NFL-high 323 times last season), McGowan could finally steal serious snaps and rewrite his wild script.
“Seth made an unfortunate decision early on,” Colts scout Tyler Hughes said. “He learned from it. This kid was out of football for two years, but his love for the game never died. He fought tooth and nail to get here.”
The low point hit right after his freshman debut in 2020. Suddenly, McGowan was back home in Mesquite, Texas, training like a madman with family friend and elite trainer Daymond Patterson (who’s worked with stars like Jaxon Smith-Njigba) while washing dishes at a restaurant and helping at a local church just to survive.
People kept asking why he bothered grinding. “That dream is over,” they’d say. But McGowan refused to quit.
“He was trying to keep his head on straight,” Patterson recalled. “Either keep working out for what he loves or do something stupid for quick cash. He chose the hard road.”
The breakthrough finally came in 2023 at Butler Community College in Kansas — just 125 rushing yards in six games, but it was football again. Then New Mexico State gave him a real shot in 2024: 823 yards at 5.4 per carry. By 2025 at Kentucky, McGowan turned into an SEC beast, pounding for 12 touchdowns — one of only four players in the conference to hit that mark.
On draft day, the wait felt endless, but the seventh round finally called. No grudges here.
“That’s understandable,” McGowan said calmly. “I’m a ‘what’s next’ guy. I’m ready to show up and work.”
The Colts did their homework. GM Chris Ballard has deep ties to New Mexico State coach Tony Sanchez, and running backs coach DeAndre Smith recruited McGowan back in the day. They see a guy who’s paid his dues.
“How long are you going to keep punishing him?” Ballard asked pointedly.
McGowan’s message is clear: “Ever since that day, I’ve done everything with every fiber in my body to show that’s not who I am.”
Indianapolis desperately wants to lighten Taylor’s massive workload. If McGowan makes the roster, he could deliver serious punch as a physical complement.
“The best thing is he’s atoned for it and keeps growing,” Patterson said. “He takes full accountability. A lot of people thought he’d never play another down of football — now he’s lightning in a bottle.”
From dishwasher to NFL dreamer — Seth McGowan’s roller-coaster ride just hit its wildest twist yet.