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Don’t Count Mark Stoops Out Just Yet

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Mark Stoops accomplished the improbable by turning around the Kentucky football program, can he do it again in 2024?
© Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Editorial

31-6.

If you had just told that score to a Kentucky fan on Saturday morning, most would have believed that Kentucky would have put on an impressive performance in a win against the South Carolina Gamecocks. But that was not how it played out, as Kentucky was on the receiving end of the blowout.

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But like Lee Corso says, “Not so fast my friend.”

The thing I keep coming back to under Coach Stoops is consistency. He brought the Kentucky football program to a level of expectedness that I had never seen nor thought possible in my lifetime. His program in and out can be described with the word “consistent”.

Thinking back to Austin MacGinnis’ game-winning field goal against Mississippi State in 2016. His stepping up to boot that kick through the goalposts was one of the most important moments of the Stoops era in my opinion, and it was done with consistency. Keep looking through his career and that “C” word will keep coming up again and again. Stephen Johnson, Josh Allen, Benny Snell, Lynn Bowden, the list goes on and on about these Stoops players whose drive, and focus have led to consistent results for the Kentucky football program.

Coach Stoops’ Wildcats have been in perilous positions before starting the season. Starting the season 0-2 in 2016, with a home loss to Southern Mississippi on record, everybody thought the year was a wash. However, Coach Stoops rallied the Cats and got big wins against South Carolina, Mississippi State, Missouri, and Louisville to go on to play in the first bowl game of the Stoops era.

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Looking at the 2019 season you see much of the same. A team that got the short end of the stick with injuries. Forced to play Lynn Bowden, the previous wide receiver at quarterback that season could have been looked at as just a bit of bad luck, and let’s try again next year. But in Mark Stoops’ fashion, he rallied the troops and went to work. Lynn Bowden the QB led Kentucky to 8 wins and put himself in the history books.

The list goes on and on about Coach Stoops rallying his team to do the impossible at Kentucky. He has embraced the underdog role with slogans like “Why not us”. Is it hard to be optimistic after last week? Yes. Will this season turn out the way we fans have hoped for? Only time will tell, but let’s not forget the man on the sideline who has been in this situation before and leads his team with a consistency Kentucky football had never seen.

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Running Back Revamp: Kentucky Adds Former Oklahoma, New Mexico State Transfer

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New Mexico State University Athletics

The Wildcats bolstered their backfield with the addition of former Oklahoma and New Mexico State running back Seth McGowan on April 20, per KSR’s Nick Roush.

Standing at 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, McGowan brings size and downhill power to Kentucky’s offense. Coming off a productive season at New Mexico State, he rushed for 823 yards and three touchdowns while adding 23 receptions for 277 yards and three more scores through the air.

A former four-star recruit in the class of 2019, McGowan originally signed with Oklahoma and logged 370 rushing yards, three touchdowns and 201 receiving yards with one touchdown during his lone season with the Sooners.

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On May 7, 2021, McGowan was removed from Oklahoma following his involvement in a legal case in which he was arrested and charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The charges were ultimately dismissed, but he pleaded guilty to larceny from a person at nighttime in December of that year.

After a stint at NAIA school Texas College in 2022, where he did not see game action, McGowan continued his path back to Division I football, playing six games with Butler Community College before transferring to New Mexico State for the 2024 season.

Now, with his past behind him, McGowan has a chance to turn the page and contribute in a major way to the Wildcats’ offense.

Running backs coach Jay Boulware, who helped Oklahoma sign McGowan out of high school, likely played a role in bringing him to Kentucky, where he is expected to have one year of eligibility remaining.

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Along with Nebraska transfer Dante Dowdell, McGowan could be a part of a versatile and punishing backfield tandem for the Wildcats. While Dowdell brings a physical, downhill rushing style, McGowan’s ability to contribute in both the run and pass game adds a dynamic layer to offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan’s pro-style system, which emphasizes balance and explosive playmaking.

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Jamon Dumas-Johnson: A NFL Draft Steal

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Kentucky Wildcats linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson (2) makes the sign of the cross while taking a knee before the game.
Carter Skaggs | Imagn

Before he transferred to Kentucky, Jamon Dumas-Johnson was an All-American at Georgia, with waves to at least test the NFL draft after winning a National Championship. However, with the decision to play his last collegiate season as a Wildcat, Dumas-Johnson was a cornerstone piece for the Kentucky defense, finishing the season with 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks during his 11 starts for the team. 

His athleticism spoke volumes at Kentucky football’s NFL pro day, where current NFL draft boards now list the linebacker as one of the best athletes at the position and has earned himself a “top 10” feel ahead of the draft. Before pro day, publications such as Bleacher Report had him listed as No. 13 at his position. 

Dumas-Johnson proved himself with the highest vertical jump (37.5) and the longest broad jump (10.60) out of the Wildcats who competed in said events, and ran an impressive best 4.50 40-yard dash. At 245 pounds, he also managed to press 16 reps of 225, which could technically be “better” compared to NFL standards, but is impressive nonetheless in hindsight.

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At 23 years old, this linebacker exploits explosiveness, agility and can hawk down any playmaker on the field. Out the 31 NFL teams that attended the event (a Cleveland Browns representative did not attend), one will be getting a prize steal of the draft with Dumas-Johnson. 

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Alex Raynor: A Rare Gem In This Year’s NFL Draft

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Kentucky Wildcats place kicker Alex Raynor (16) lines up a kick.
Jordan Prather | Imagn

Alex Raynor had an illustrious season for Kentucky last year, being named to First-Team All-SEC, as a finalist for the Lou Groza award and as SEC Special Teams Player of the Year.

As the record holder for the longest field goal in program history, and arguably one of, if not the, most consistent kickers to ever be a Wildcat, Raynor now looks to the NFL Draft in the next chapter of his book. 

Recently, at Kentucky football’s NFL Pro Day on Tuesday, March 11, Raynor kicked off the event with his workout. 

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Although he would miss a routine kick for him inside of the 45, he would continue to move back, nailing a 55-yard kick and nearly making a 60-yard kick. 

The best moments of his workout came when Raynor would line up behind the UK logo inside of Nutter Field House and would nail a 65-yard field goal.

That, although it’s an indoor kick and is not faced with the NFL pressure, would be one of the longest field goals in NFL history. 

Historically, it’s extremely rare for kickers to be drafted any higher than the 6th, more commonly going in the late rounds on the third day. 

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However, Raynor would hold as one of the rare occasions to go higher than projected, due to his historic year as a Wildcat.

Wherever the young man from Georgia ends up in the pros, don’t be surprised if you hear his name every reoccurring Sunday.

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