Running back Jadan Baugh is determined to put in the work to help the Gators turn their fortunes around in 2026. (Photo: UAA Communications)
Baugh is Back — And He Wants More Than Yards
Friday, April 3, 2026 | Football
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It was never really about personal success for Jadan Baugh.
In his first two seasons as a Gator, the Atlanta native ran his way into the record books and fans' hearts. It was easy to see why having him back in Gainesville was not a want but a need.
Baugh capped the 2025 season with a historic performance against in-state rival Florida State. Rumbling through Seminole defenders, Baugh punished the ground with 266 yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries.
In a moment where it was incredibly warranted to celebrate personal achievements, Baugh was focused on his team.
"That whole season, I was more focused on team success. I was never just focused on what I could do. I never just set a record," he said. "I never thought too much about just success for myself; I always thought about a team. Because without a team, you can't do anything."
Despite the win, the Gators finished a frustrating 4-8, and a new regime was looming.
Baugh, like many others, was unsure of his future in Gainesville. That all changed when he had time to think about it.
"For me, it's more just knowing where home was," he said. "And that's what I definitely did in my thinking process. I was like, I knew where home is. I knew where I wanted to be. So, Florida is definitely the place."
Now Baugh, a junior, returns a cargo ship load of production to Florida in 2026. He can be seen as a leader in his physical abilities, at least.
"JB, he can really do it all," Gators safety Bryce Thornton said. "Catch, juke, run you over. He can do a lot, and just having him, y'all seen it all last year."
On the same side of the ball, transfer receiver Eric Singleton Jr. has drawn similar conclusions.
"Just explosiveness and power," he said. "He still has the ability to make a one-cut and go. He's just an all-around back."
Baugh continues to work on the vocal communication, though.
"That's one of the biggest challenges that I had overcome, is being a leader," Baugh said. "Being more vocal, saying the things that a lot of guys don't want to hear. I feel like that's always gonna get us over the hump, and that's what helped me get over the hump."
What made the running back's decision to come back a little bit easier was the man taking over the throne.
Fans may already know about the celebrated Christmas Eve visit, but to Baugh, Jon Sumrall is holding up his end of the bargain.
"On the field, Coach Sumrall is 24/7 on our heads," Baugh said. "Being around Coach Sumrall in these few months that we have been around each other, he's made me better and better. Even just the team, he's made us better."
Sumrall has said time and time again that he pushes his players. He is vocal, constructive, and will tell you when you are not performing to your full potential.
When the head coach talks about Baugh, he is very complimentary.
"He's a very willing guy. He's coachable. He's a pleaser," Sumrall said. "He wants to figure out how he can do things to the best of his ability. And it's our job to push him every day."
With a sour taste left in his mouth from 2025, Baugh has had clear motives and intentions on his mind.
He wants to win, and he wants to work hard to do so.
"It gives me a lot of drive," Baugh said of last season. "Honestly, it makes me want to come into the facility to work a lot more, especially in the weight room. Coach Whitt, I'm coming in with the new staff. They're adamant on getting us to be urgent throughout everything. I feel like last year, we weren't too urgent with going through the weight room and on the field. So, they ain't doing this halfway, they really helped me."
Willing to do anything, Baugh has worked with the offense and Buster Faulkner, taking snaps in the wildcat formation.
But what fans might not know is that before he became the first Florida back to rush for 1,000 since 2015, Baugh played a little quarterback in high school. So, after two years strictly as a running back, the former "ATH" said it best.
"I feel once a ballplayer always a ballplayer, so you prepare for it," he said.
The relationship between Baugh and Faulkner is not new, either.
Faulkner tried to recruit Baugh to Georgia Tech, and Baugh said that having Faulkner at UF is "meant to be."
Working closely with Faulkner, Sumrall and teammates, new and old, Baugh is hungry for success, team success.
He looks past the personal glory and favors the shared victories of each day, each week and each game.
"He's a really low ego, high output guy," Sumrall said.
In his first two seasons as a Gator, the Atlanta native ran his way into the record books and fans' hearts. It was easy to see why having him back in Gainesville was not a want but a need.
Baugh capped the 2025 season with a historic performance against in-state rival Florida State. Rumbling through Seminole defenders, Baugh punished the ground with 266 yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries.
In a moment where it was incredibly warranted to celebrate personal achievements, Baugh was focused on his team.
"That whole season, I was more focused on team success. I was never just focused on what I could do. I never just set a record," he said. "I never thought too much about just success for myself; I always thought about a team. Because without a team, you can't do anything."
Despite the win, the Gators finished a frustrating 4-8, and a new regime was looming.
Baugh, like many others, was unsure of his future in Gainesville. That all changed when he had time to think about it.
"For me, it's more just knowing where home was," he said. "And that's what I definitely did in my thinking process. I was like, I knew where home is. I knew where I wanted to be. So, Florida is definitely the place."
Now Baugh, a junior, returns a cargo ship load of production to Florida in 2026. He can be seen as a leader in his physical abilities, at least.
"JB, he can really do it all," Gators safety Bryce Thornton said. "Catch, juke, run you over. He can do a lot, and just having him, y'all seen it all last year."
On the same side of the ball, transfer receiver Eric Singleton Jr. has drawn similar conclusions.
"Just explosiveness and power," he said. "He still has the ability to make a one-cut and go. He's just an all-around back."
Baugh continues to work on the vocal communication, though.
"That's one of the biggest challenges that I had overcome, is being a leader," Baugh said. "Being more vocal, saying the things that a lot of guys don't want to hear. I feel like that's always gonna get us over the hump, and that's what helped me get over the hump."
What made the running back's decision to come back a little bit easier was the man taking over the throne.
Fans may already know about the celebrated Christmas Eve visit, but to Baugh, Jon Sumrall is holding up his end of the bargain.
"On the field, Coach Sumrall is 24/7 on our heads," Baugh said. "Being around Coach Sumrall in these few months that we have been around each other, he's made me better and better. Even just the team, he's made us better."
Sumrall has said time and time again that he pushes his players. He is vocal, constructive, and will tell you when you are not performing to your full potential.
When the head coach talks about Baugh, he is very complimentary.
"He's a very willing guy. He's coachable. He's a pleaser," Sumrall said. "He wants to figure out how he can do things to the best of his ability. And it's our job to push him every day."
With a sour taste left in his mouth from 2025, Baugh has had clear motives and intentions on his mind.
He wants to win, and he wants to work hard to do so.
"It gives me a lot of drive," Baugh said of last season. "Honestly, it makes me want to come into the facility to work a lot more, especially in the weight room. Coach Whitt, I'm coming in with the new staff. They're adamant on getting us to be urgent throughout everything. I feel like last year, we weren't too urgent with going through the weight room and on the field. So, they ain't doing this halfway, they really helped me."
Willing to do anything, Baugh has worked with the offense and Buster Faulkner, taking snaps in the wildcat formation.
But what fans might not know is that before he became the first Florida back to rush for 1,000 since 2015, Baugh played a little quarterback in high school. So, after two years strictly as a running back, the former "ATH" said it best.
"I feel once a ballplayer always a ballplayer, so you prepare for it," he said.
The relationship between Baugh and Faulkner is not new, either.
Faulkner tried to recruit Baugh to Georgia Tech, and Baugh said that having Faulkner at UF is "meant to be."
Working closely with Faulkner, Sumrall and teammates, new and old, Baugh is hungry for success, team success.
He looks past the personal glory and favors the shared victories of each day, each week and each game.
"He's a really low ego, high output guy," Sumrall said.
Players Mentioned
Trent McKnight Media Availability 4-2-26
Thursday, April 02
Marcus Davis Media Availability 4-2-26
Thursday, April 02
Chris Collins Media Availability 4-2-26
Thursday, April 02
Jadan Baugh Media Availability 4-1-26
Wednesday, April 01
