East Carolina head football coach Blake Harrell announced that running back has officially signed his National Letter of Intent with the Pirates, bringing the program’s 2026 recruiting class to a total of 40 players.
Top stars addition caps a busy cycle for ECU, which also welcomed 22 mid-year enrollees, along with 15 incoming freshmen and two redshirt juniors during the Dec. 3–5 signing period. Of the 40 signees, 38 are already on campus and are expected to take part in spring practice beginning the week of March 16. McGowan and offensive lineman Preston Broadway are scheduled to enroll this summer.
A 6-foot, 190-pound freshman out of Stratford High School in South Carolina, McGowan committed to East Carolina in January 2026 and will officially arrive on campus this summer. He played his senior season under head coach Erik Hnatko and was a key force in leading the Knights to a 10–2 overall record, an undefeated 5–0 conference mark, and a third-round playoff run.
McGowan appeared in 12 games as a senior, piling up 1,896 rushing yards on 200 carries for an impressive 9.5 yards per attempt, while scoring 23 touchdowns. He recorded 10 games of at least 100 rushing yards and averaged 158 yards per contest. As a receiver, he added nine catches for 198 yards and three touchdowns, finishing the season with 2,195 all-purpose yards and 26 total scores, according to MaxPreps.
His standout performances earned him a spot in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, where he rushed nine times for 43 yards. He was also named Post and Courier Player of the Week on Oct. 7, 2025, after a dominant showing against Berkeley that included 227 rushing yards and a touchdown, plus a receiving score in a 21–17 comeback win.
Before transferring to Stratford, McGowan spent three seasons at Goose Creek High School and was a multi-sport athlete, also competing in basketball and track. He is rated as the top running back prospect in South Carolina by PrepRedZone and holds three-star ratings from ESPN, Rivals, and On3. McGowan chose East Carolina over offers from Florida A&M, Jackson State, Norfolk State, Presbyterian, and Wofford.