The Oklahoma Sooners running back room will look vastly different than it did a year ago especially considering the most recent loss within the group. On Thursday, news surfaced that Seth McGowan had officially entered the transfer portal.
Originally signing with the Sooners as a 4-star prospect, McGowan found himself in the limelight after lackluster performances from others listed on the depth chart. Receiving double-digit carries through the month of October, the back carried the torch. Racking up just 146 yards, the future remained bright for the youngster. However, the biggest cuts to a defense came from the receiving abilities of McGowan. During the same month, the freshman accounted for 21.25 yards per catch. As one of the better options, Lincoln Riley relied on the talented student-athlete up until the return of Rhamondre Stevenson.
Of course, things took an unexpected turn when McGowan’s name popped up as a suspect in a robbery that occurred during the middle of April. Facing a suspension and possibly more, it appears as though the program and the running back are parting ways. Is the legal proceeding the main cause for the departure? Or was it something else?
While I’m not here to speculate, the one thing we know is that Kennedy Brooks and Eric Gray are going head-to-head for the starting role. As a one-two punch, opposing defenses should have their hands full with the duo while the rest of running back room comes in for mop up duty.