After a dismal season, the Florida Gators are fueling a culture shift as Jadan Baugh details how Jon Sumrall’s gritty philosophy is transforming adversity into a competitive edge.
Florida Gators running back Jadan Baugh is a big believer in the program’s new head coach Jon Sumrall is building in Gainesville.
The future NFL draft pick is looking to build on his impressive 2025 season. He chose to return to the Gators for the 2026 campaign after seeing the intensity Sumrall and his staff are bringing to the program that went a disappointing 4-8 last year.
During the SEC Media Days event on Wednesday, Baugh told reporters that Sumrall sent a clear message to his team during spring football, letting them know that fighting through adversity is the way to succeed in college football.
"The fire has spread throughout the team," Baugh said, via USA Today. "The main messages that I got from just the staff in general, even Coach Sumrall, is when things are going bad, we all say good. When we're facing adversity, we all say good, just because that's what builds character.
"When you are in adversity times, that's what helps us. So I know each and every day we come out there, the coaches are trying to put us behind the wall, behind the line. But we also just look at it and be like, let's go."
Florida struggled to face adversity under former head coach Billy Napier. The team couldn't put consistent wins together last year, and they seemed to fold after a Week 2 loss to USF. The Gators would lose four out of their first six games of the season.
Baugh is looking forward to a much better season under Sumrall this fall. He still loves running out of the tunnel at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, believing it's an honor to play for the Gators.
"Every time. Before I even touch campus, I get goosebumps, just because it's different," Baugh said. I don't think you'll ever get that feeling nowhere else.
"Because (I’ve) seen it as a recruit, as a fan. I've also seen it as a player now. So being able to get goosebumps in a place like The Swamp, I feel like that's an honor."
If Baugh and his teammates can weather the early storm in SEC play, they could have some meaningful games to play at home in November.
