Jabbar Juluke enters his fourth season with the Gators as Florida’s associate head coach / running backs coach.
In 2024, Juluke helped guide Florida to a late-season charge, winning the last four games of the season to finish with an 8-5 record overall, with victories over No. 21 LSU, No. 9 Ole Miss, Florida State and Tulane in the 16th Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. The Gators were one of just six unranked teams in the nation to post multiple top-25 wins on the year.
Individually, true freshman Jadan Baugh led the team with 133 rushes for 673 yards and seven touchdowns, earning him Freshman All-SEC accolades. Baugh ranked second in rushing yards by a freshman in the SEC and his five rushing touchdowns against Kentucky in his first career start tied the program record with Trey Burton (2010) and Tim Tebow (2007). Florida was the only FBS team to be 3-0 when starting a true freshmen backfield this season.
Montrell Johnson had 593 rushing yards and six scores in just 10 games, while Ja’Kobi Jackson had 509 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the year. Johnson finished second in the nation in rush yards per carry at 5.93. Johnson, who was coached by Juluke his entire career, ended his collegiate tenure with over 3,000 rushing yards.
In 2023, Juluke saw his duo of Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson Jr. lead the Gators backfield with a combined 67.2% of carries (283 of 421) and 87.5% of the team’s net rushing yardage (1,570 of 1,794). They finished with nearly identical averages in rushing yards per game: Etienne - 68.5, Johnson Jr. - 68.1. Since 2022, Florida has posted 11 200-yard rushing performances and rushed for 100-plus yards in 20 of the last 25 games.
During his first year leading Florida’s running backs room, the Gators finished the regular season as the third-most productive rushing offense in the nation and best in the conference in yards per carry (5.84). Florida ran the ball for an average of 213.7 yards per game in 2022, which ranked 16th in the FBS and third in the SEC.
At the forefront of the Florida’s mighty ground offense was the running back duo formed by freshman Trevor Etienne and Louisiana transfer Montrell Johnson Jr, who averaged 5.7 yards per carry and 120.0 rushing yards per game, while combining for a touchdown in all 12 regular-season games and scoring 17 total touchdowns. They were one of only 15 running back duos in the FBS to rush for over 700 yards apiece in 2022.
Johnson Jr., who Juluke recruited out of high school to play at UL, finished the 2022 campaign ranked tied-for-fourth in the SEC in rushing touchdowns (10) and became the first UF running back to rush for over 800 yards since La’Mical Perine in 2018. Meanwhile, Etienne ranked fourth in yards per carry (6.1), tied for 10th in touchdowns (six) and eighth in rushing yards (719) in the FBS among true freshmen.
Prior to Florida, Juluke spent the four previous years (2018-21) on Head Coach Billy Napier's staff at Louisiana, which included four straight Sun Belt West Division titles, a share of the Sun Belt title in 2020 and 2021 Sun Belt Conference Championship.
Juluke coached two running backs who were drafted in back-to-back years (2020-21). Eli Mitchell by the San Francisco 49ers and Raymond Calais by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mitchell was named First Team All-Sun Belt in 2020 and led Louisiana in rushing, with 141 carries for 878 yards and eight touchdowns. His yardage total was third in the league and 23rd nationally, while his eight rushing scores were the fifth most in the Sun Belt and tied for 41st nationally. Mitchell finished his career ranked fifth in career rushing touchdowns (41) and sixth in career rushing yards (3,267) and set the program record for most rushing yards in a bowl game after tallying 127 yards and a touchdown in the 2020 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.
The 2019 FootballScoop Running Backs Coach of the Year, Juluke led the Ragin' Cajuns to its best rushing season in program history in 2019, setting school records in total rushing yards (3,604) and rushing touchdowns (42). Louisiana finished the season ranked third nationally in yards per rush (6.28), rushing touchdowns (42) and sixth in total rushing yards.
Prior to a season at Texas Tech (2017), he was the running backs coach at LSU in 2016. Juluke tutored one of the nations top running backs in Leonard Fournette who was the No. 5 overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. He also worked with Derrius Guice that season, pushing the sophomore to 1,428 yards and 11 touchdowns while being named to the All-SEC First Team with Fournette.
He began his collegiate coaching career at Louisiana Tech, where he spent two seasons (2014-15) as the running backs coach. Juluke helped the Bulldogs win the Conference USA West Division title in 2014. He also heavily involved in recurring efforts and helped land three 2017 NFL Draft picks in wide receivers Carlos Henderson (Denver Broncos), Trent Tyalor (San Francisco 49ers) and safety Xavier Woods (Dallas Cowboys).
Juluke arrived at Louisiana Tech following nine years as the head coach at Edna Karr High School in New Orleans. Juluke was regarded as one of Louisiana’s top high school coaches during that time as he compiled an 80-39 record that was capped by a perfect 14-0 mark and a Class 4A state title in 2012.
Juluke guided Edna Karr to seven district titles and two state runner-up finishes during his tenure. He boasted a 49-8 record over his final four seasons alone which featured three appearances in the state championship game. Most impressively, Juluke helped over 70 of his players earn college football scholarships during his head coaching career.
Prior to his stint at Edna Karr, Juluke served as the defensive back coach and special teams coordinator at O.P. Walker High school for one season (2002). Juluke coached linebackers at St. Augustine High School in 2000 and 2001 after serving as the wide receivers coach for Brother Martin High School in 1999.
Juluke began his coaching career as the defensive coordinator for Frederick Douglas High School from 1996-98.
As a player, Juluke helped guide Southern University to an 11-1 record and a Black National Championship in 1993. In addition to his time as a standout safety for the Jaguars, Juluke also lettered one season with the men’s basketball program during the 1994-95 campaign. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Southern in 1999.
Juluke is a native of New Orleans. He and his wife, Denise, are parents to three children – Jahmad, Jamari and Dyrius Smith.
| JABBAR JULUKE'S COACHING HISTORY |
| Year |
School, Position (Record as HC) |
| 2022-Pres. |
Florida, Associate Head Coach/ Running Backs Coach |
| 2018-2021 |
Louisiana, Assistant Head Coach / Running Backs Coach |
| 2017 |
Texas Tech, Associate Head Coach / Running Backs Coach |
| 2016 |
LSU, Running Backs Coach |
| 2013-2015 |
Louisiana Tech, Running Backs Coach |
| 2006-2012 |
Edna Karr High School, Head Coach (80-39) |
| 2005 |
McKinley High School, Assistant Coach |
| 2003-04 |
Edna Karr High School, Head Coach (80-39) |
| 2002 |
O.P. Walker High School, Defensive Backs Coach/Special Teams Coordinator |
| 2000-01 |
St. Augustine High School, Linebackers |
| 1999 |
Brother Martin High School, Wide Receivers |
| 1996-98 |
Frederick Douglas High School, Defensive Coordinator |
| NFL PLAYERS COACHED BY JULUKE |
| Name |
Team |
Rnd. |
Pos. |
College |
Year Entered NFL |
| Chris Smith |
Seattle |
Undrafted Free Agent |
RB |
Louisiana |
2023 |
| Elijah Mitchell |
San Francisco |
Round 6, Pick 10, 194 Overall |
RB |
Louisiana |
2021 |
| Raymond Calais |
Tampa Bay |
Round 7, Pick 31, 188 Overall |
RB |
Louisiana |
2020 |
| Trey Ragas |
Las Vegas |
Undrafted Free Agent |
RB |
Louisiana |
2020 |
| Leonard Fournette |
Jacksonville |
Round 1, Pick 4, 4 Overall |
RB |
LSU |
2017 |
| Boston Scott |
New Orleans |
Round 6, Pick 27, 201 Overall |
RB |
Louisiana Tech |
2018 |
| Derrius Guice |
Washington |
Round 2, Pick 27, 59 Overall |
RB |
LSU |
2018 |
| Kenneth Dixon |
Baltimore |
Round 4, Pick 36, 134 Overall |
RB |
Louisiana Tech |
2016 |
| Cornelius Lucas (Coached in HS) |
Detroit |
Undrafted Free Agent |
T |
Kansas State |
2014 |
| Michael Wallace (Coached in HS) |
Pittsburgh |
Round 3, Pick 20, 84 Overall |
WR |
Ole Miss |
2009 |
| Keenan Lewis (Coached in HS) |
Pittsburgh |
Round 3, Pick 32, 96 Overall |
CB |
Oregon State |
2009 |
| NFL PLAYERS RECRUITED BY JULUKE |
| Name |
Team |
Rnd. |
Pos. |
College |
Year Entered NFL |
| Racey McMath |
Tennessee |
Round 6, Pick 21, 205 Overall |
WR |
LSU |
2021 |
| Tory Carter |
Tennessee |
Undrafted Free Agent |
FB |
LSU |
2021 |
| Grant Delpit |
Cleveland |
Round 2, Pick 12, 44 Overall |
S |
LSU |
2020 |
| Saahdiq Charles |
Washington |
Round 7, Pick 31, 188 Overall |
RB |
Louisiana |
2020 |
| Clyde Edwards-Helaire |
Jacksonville |
Round 1, Pick 4, 4 Overall |
RB |
LSU |
2020 |
| Carlos Henderson |
Denver |
Round 3, Pick 18, 82 Overall |
WR |
Louisiana Tech |
2017 |
