INDIANAPOLIS — When working again Seth McGowan went from prized College of Oklahoma recruit to restaurant dishwasher, he was about as far faraway from main faculty soccer as one may think about.
For 2 years, he unsuccessfully discovered a manner again to varsity soccer’s highest degree. Extra particularly, he contended with two years of wierd jobs, grueling exercises with no speedy payoff and a sequence of closed doorways.
And McGowan had nobody responsible however himself.
McGowan was dismissed from Oklahoma and later charged with a number of felonies in reference to a 2021 armed theft and assault in Norman, Oklahoma. Former teammate Trejan Bridges was accused of utilizing a handgun within the fee of the crime and was additionally dismissed from the staff and charged.
Each confronted felony costs of theft, conspiracy and assault and battery with a harmful weapon, in keeping with court docket paperwork. McGowan pleaded responsible to larceny, and the opposite costs have been dismissed. He spent three months in jail and was later sentenced to a yr of probation.
“It price me every little thing,” he mentioned.
Now, he has one other probability.
The Indianapolis Colts chosen McGowan within the seventh spherical of April’s draft, marking the following step in his story after his robust season at Kentucky in 2025. There’s a probability for actual taking part in time behind star again Jonathan Taylor, whose workload the Colts would love to cut back.
“Seth made an unlucky choice early on in his profession,” Colts scout Tyler Hughes mentioned. “He discovered from it. And this child was out of soccer for 2 years, and his love for the sport by no means swayed.
“This child fought to be the place he is at right this moment.”
The armed theft occurred in April 2021, not lengthy after McGowan made his Oklahoma debut as a freshman within the fall of 2020.
After lacking two years of soccer, a future within the sport appeared unlikely. However again house in Mesquite, Texas, with dim prospects for his subsequent cease, McGowan received again to work. He educated relentlessly with household good friend and famous coach Daymond Patterson, who has labored with Seattle Seahawks star huge receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
McGowan additionally labored varied jobs to make ends meet, equivalent to dishwashing and one other gig at a neighborhood church. It was not the long run McGowan had envisioned. However taking part in alternatives weren’t materializing as a result of faculties have been scared off by his arrest.
“He was attempting to maintain his head on straight,” mentioned Patterson, who has recognized McGowan since McGowan was in center faculty. “It is like, both work out and do what I am nonetheless keen about and what I really like or do one thing dumb.
“There’s a variety of simpler issues to go do to get some cash that he determined to not do.”
All of the whereas, McGowan needed to hold coaching to be prepared if and when a possibility arrived. He continuously fielded the identical query: What is the level?
“Folks would ask, ‘Why are you figuring out, bro?'” Patterson mentioned. “They have been like, ‘That dream is over.'”
Nonetheless, McGowan pushed on. However when would the payoff come?
It wasn’t till 2023 that McGowan received a breakthrough alternative at Butler Group Faculty in Kansas, a junior faculty with an extended historical past of sending gamers to Division I faculties. He rushed for simply 125 yards in six appearances, however it represented a shift after so lengthy away from the sport.
In 2024, New Mexico State gave McGowan his first shot to return to Division I. He went on to hurry for a career-high 823 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per rush. In 2025, he transferred to Kentucky and established himself as one of many extra bodily rushers within the SEC. He ran for 12 touchdowns, one among simply 4 gamers within the convention to take action.
On Saturday, McGowan was in a well-known predicament: ready. It was hardly stunning that McGowan needed to wait till the seventh spherical as a consequence of his arrest. After a six-year journey that took him across the nation, it was value it.
“That is comprehensible,” McGowan mentioned of his draft place. “I am not an individual that is going to carry a grudge or sit and pout about it. I am a ‘what’s subsequent’ form of man, so I will present up. I am simply prepared to indicate up and work.”
The Colts say they vetted McGowan meticulously, tapping into private relationships with a few of his former coaches. Colts basic supervisor Chris Ballard has a longtime friendship with New Mexico State coach Tony Sanchez. McGowan was additionally as soon as recruited by Colts working backs coach DeAndre Smith throughout Smith’s tenure at Texas Tech, so the 2 have historical past.
Ballard steered it is time to flip the web page concerning McGowan.
“How lengthy are you going to maintain punishing him?” Ballard mentioned.
Stated McGowan: “Ever since that day, I’ve executed every little thing that I can, with each fiber in my physique, [to show] that is not who I’m.”
McGowan has a possibility to have an effect if he makes the Colts’ roster. Indianapolis would like to throttle again on Taylor’s utilization in 2026 after his NFL-high 323 carries final season.
McGowan lastly has the second probability he wasn’t positive would come. And he does not plan on losing it.
“The very best factor is he is atoned for it, and he is persevering with to develop,” Patterson mentioned. “He is not shying away from it. He is not blaming anyone for it. He takes accountability.
“And now he is gotten that second probability, and it has been lightning within the bottle. Lots of people did not suppose he would ever make it to the NFL. Lots of people thought he would by no means play one other down of soccer.”
