UF position preview: Running back

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The second in a position-by-position look at the 2026 Gators leading up to fall camp:

TODAY: RUNNING BACK

What to expect

Jadan Baugh closed 2025 with record-setting 266 rushing yards against Florida State, displaying explosiveness, killer instinct and durability during a 38-carry, two-touchdown day. The 6-foot-1, 228-pound junior enters presumably his final season in Gainesville as a potential first-round NFL draft pick and one of the SEC’s three top tailbacks, joining Missouri’s Ahmad Hardy and Ole Miss’ Keiwan Lacy.

Yet, Baugh is poised to fully tap his potential and showcase his versatility in new offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner’s attack. Powerful between the tackles, elusive in space on the perimeter and comfortable as a pass catcher, Baugh ranked third in the SEC with 1,380 yards from scrimmage, including 1,170 rushing — despite just three 100-yard games against FBS foes — and three games with more than 25 receiving yards.

In three seasons under Faulkner at Georgia Tech, tailback Jamal Haynes rushed for 2,534 yards and 21 scores and caught 81 passes — including 33 in 2025 — for 574 yards and four touchdowns. He had 10 games with more than 25 receiving yards. But at 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, Haynes doesn’t possess Baugh’s physical stature or skill set.

While Baugh is poised for another strong season, he will not have to entirely shoulder the load. The Gators have depth and options behind him, beginnig with veteran transfers Evan Pryor and London Montgomery.

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Pryor began is career at Ohio State in 2021, but transferred after two seasons and became a versatile effective change-of-pace option at Cincinnati. Pryor rushed for 940 yards, averaging 7.1 yards per carry, and caught 25 passes for 288 yards (11.2 yards per catch) and two scores.

The 5-foot-10, 194-pound Montgomery, a redshirt junior, rushed for 1,001 yards and nine touchdowns in two seasons at East Carolina, including a team-leading 742 yards and seven scores on 156 carries in 2025.

Expect redshirt freshman Duke Clark also to get in the mix. The 6-foot-2, 202-pound Tampa native impressed coaching during the spring after producing 58 yards on 14 carries, along with two catches for 14 yards in four appearances in a limited role last season. Florida’s new staff also liked what it saw from redshirt freshman Byron Louis, a former Plantation American Heritage standout who did not appear last season.

In the end, though, Baugh will spearhead the backfield with the chance to become one of the naton’s top tailbacks in 2026.

Returners

Jadan Baugh, junior

Brian Case, redshirt freshman walk-on

Duke Clark, redshirt freshman

Kelvin Jimenez, redshirt sophomore walk-on

Bryon Louis, redshirt freshman

Anthony Rubio, redshirt junior walk-on

Departures

KD Daniels (transfer to Wake Forest)

Chad Gasper Jr. (tranfer to Blinn College)

Ja’Kobi Jackson (transfer to Ohio State)

Treyaun Webb (transfer to App State)

Arrivals

London Montgomery, redshirt junior (transfer East Carolina)

Evan Pryor, redshirt senior (transfer Cincinnati)

Previous postion breakdown

Quarterbacks

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

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