This Florida Gators weapon has received some imperative advice after a huge season.
Jon Sumrall has already had some major wins over his first several months as Florida Gators head coach, but one of his biggest early victories was convincing running back Jadan Baugh to stay in Gainesville.
Baugh flirted with the idea of entering the transfer portal after a breakout campaign in 2025, but he opted to return to Florida for another season.
The budding star racked up 1,170 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 5.3 yards per carry this past season. He also caught 33 passes for 210 yards and a couple of scores, establishing himself as one of the top halfbacks in the SEC.
Baugh still has to play at least one more season before becoming NFL Draft eligible, and if 2026 goes anything like 2025 for the Atlanta native, he will almost certainly be declaring for the draft next spring.
But how much can Baugh help his draft stock next season?
Well, Bleacher Report's David Kenyon offered some urgent advice to Baugh in that regard, naming him among seven offensive players who could most boost their reputation in 2026.
Florida Gators running back Jadan Baugh. Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images."New offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner brings a run-focused mentality from Georgia Tech, which saw its lead running back average at least 5.6 yards per carry in each of Faulkner's three seasons," Kenyon wrote. "On paper, this is an ideal fit — and Baugh may parlay that success into being a rare running back in Day 1 conversations."
A former three-star recruit, I'm not sure anyone anticipated that Baugh could be a potential first-round pick upon his arrival in the Swamp back in 2024.
But Baugh immediately flashed terrific skill during his freshman campaign, registering 673 yards and seven touchdowns on 5.1 yards per attempt.
If Baugh's upward trajectory continues in his junior season, we could be looking at an absolutely monster year from the 6-foot-1, 230-pound bruiser.
And while Baugh is definitely a strong runner up the gut, he is not just a north-south guy. In fact, he has displayed impressive breakaway speed and the ability to make defenders miss in the open field. Not only that, but he has already shown value as a receiver out of the backfield.
It will certainly be a tall task for Baugh to cement himself as a potential first-round pick for 2027, but if he continues improving at his current rate, it is not out of the realm of possibility.
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