Vikings Did Homework on Unusual Rookie RB

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings recently used a pre-draft visit on Kentucky running back Seth McGowan, who will turn 25 in October. Some rookies haven’t turned 21 yet. It’s the latest in an obvious pattern of Minnesota doing homework on halfbacks, so much so that it might be strange for the team to leave the draft without one.

Minnesota’s pre-draft visit made McGowan a name worth tracking.

If McGowan is the pick, the Vikings would likely get a full rookie contract from him before worrying about an age-related decline.

McGowan Stands Out on Minnesota’s RB Board

Most Vikings fans are clamoring for a new running back from the draft.

Kentucky running back Seth McGowan celebrates after reaching the end zone during third-quarter action against Florida on Nov. 8, 2025, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky. The moment captures his energy following a scoring play as Kentucky builds momentum in a competitive SEC matchup during the latter stages of the game. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images.

MIN Meets with the Kentucky RB

The sitdown with McGowan is apparently in the books. KSTP’s Darren Wolfson tweeted Tuesday, “Add Kentucky RB Seth McGowan to the list of Vikings draft visitors last week. The Vikings had at least three RBs visit: McGowan, Coleman (Washington), and Johnson (Nebraska).”

Compared to previous years, the Vikings have actually fielded a bonanza of running back visits, a signal that a rookie could be on the way. The Vikings haven’t used early-round draft capital on a tailback since Dalvin Cook in 2017 and Alexander Mattison in 2019. The drought may be over.

The Scouting Report

McGowan is 6’0″ and 225 pounds, so he has plenty of size. He’s known for his patience and power. Weakness? Very little explosion and ball security woes. The Wildcat compiled 725 rushing yards on 165 carries last year with 12 touchdowns.

NFL Draft Buzz on his rookie profile: “The film on McGowan tells a clear story: this is a runner who sees it, trusts it, and hits it. Between the tackles in man and power schemes, he plays with the kind of processing speed and downhill temperament that translates. His best work at Kentucky came on gap runs, and when the blocking was there, he rewarded it with decisive cuts and strong contact balance.”

“The redemption arc is real and compelling. You can see a back who plays with something to prove, who runs angry and finishes through contact like a guy who knows what it feels like to have football taken away from him. The concerns, though, are equally real. The explosive play numbers from his Kentucky tape are genuinely troubling. At New Mexico State, he popped long runs with regularity, but against SEC competition, those plays simply vanished.”

McGowan sounds like a guy with an RB2 ceiling.

TBD added, “A 20-yard long on 165 carries is a number that stands out in the wrong way. The fumbling has to clean up, full stop. And the pass protection tape from 2025 was rough. He has the frame for it, and he showed more willingness than technique, but at the NFL level, a back who cannot protect the quarterback on third down is a back who sits on the sideline during the most important snaps.”

“The receiving game is limited too, more of a checkdown option than someone who will stress a defense out of the backfield. McGowan fits best in a downhill, run-heavy offense where he can work as a committee back within gap and power schemes. He is not a three-down starter at the next level.”

The Derek Warehime Connection

Minnesota parted ways with longtime offensive coach Chris Kuper this offseason, paving the way for assistant Keith Carter to take over the big job. In return, needing to fill the assistant offensive line coach vacancy, head coach Kevin O’Connell, offensive coordinator Wes Phillips, and Carter hired Derek Warehime, who very briefly stopped by the Wildcats in 2025 as the run game coordinator.

Kentucky running back Seth McGowan dives across the goal line for a touchdown during first-quarter action on Nov. 15, 2025, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky. The play shows his determination near the end zone as he powers through contact to secure an early score against Tennessee Tech. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images.

That’s not a smoking gun to draft McGowan, but Warehime and McGowan will know many of the same people at Kentucky who could vouch for the rookie.

Other RBs in Play from the Draft

Vikings fans are dreaming big about a new running back. Full stop. Jeremiyah Love, the top prospect in the draft from Notre Dame, probably isn’t in play because a team will pick him in the Top 10, but after Love, the board totally opens for Minnesota.

Kentucky running back Seth McGowan carries the ball and looks for space during first-quarter action against South Carolina on Sep. 27, 2025, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. The run highlights his vision and acceleration as he navigates defenders in an SEC road environment. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images.

If McGowan doesn’t end up with the Vikings, these options remain:

• Jadarian Price (Notre Dame | R2)
• Mike Washington Jr. (Arkansas | R3)
• Jonah Coleman (Washington | R3–R4)
• Emmett Johnson (Nebraska | R4)
• Kaytron Allen (Penn State | R4)
• Nick Singleton (Penn State | R4–R5)
• Demond Claiborne (Wake Forest | R5)
• Jaydn Ott (Oklahoma | R5–R6)
• Adam Randall (Clemson | R6)
• Kaelon Black (Indiana | R6–R7)

Johnson from Nebraska may be the frontrunner to join the Vikings; he grew up in the Twin Cities, and Minnesota has met with him twice in the last two months.

It’s worth noting that McGowan may be more game-ready than most rookies; that’s usually the case for 25-year-old rookies.