One of the stars from the Florida Gators is being projected to land with a contender in the NFL.
The Florida Gators come into the new college football season with all sorts of hype around them.
But there is also a ton of questions regarding the ceiling of this season's team. With new head coach Jon Sumrall now leading the way, Florida should be more competitive.
However, this roster may not be up to par to be very competitive in the loaded SEC.
The Gators do have some talented guys on the roster who could become household names before long. One of them is on offense, and he's been gaining steam heading into the season.
In an early look ahead to the 2027 NFL Draft, Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated has mocked one of Florida's stars to be taken in the first-round. Manzano has running back Jadan Baugh going to the Chicago Bears at pick No. 26.
"Coach Ben Johnson loves to have a one-two punch in the backfield, and there could be an opening next to Kyle Monangai with D’Andre Swift scheduled to be a free agent in the offseason. With Baugh shaping up to be the No. 1 running back prospect in this class, Chicago could be an ideal landing spot. Baugh has the necessary size at 6'1" and 225 pounds to be a bellcow at the next level, and his physicality on the field results in many missed tackles," Manzano said.
Going to the Bears may be perfect for Baugh, and he would have a chance to showcase his entire skill set. Chicago has been building out the roster well of late, and the running back could be the final missing piece.
Baugh broke out with the Gators last season, rushing for 1,170 yards and eight touchdowns, playing in eight games. The Gators are expected to use Baugh in multiple ways this season, potentially even out of the wildcat if a situation calls for it.
The running back confirmed this, saying he could even attempt some passes this year.
"Oh yeah, I'm ready. Full package," Baugh said. When asked if we will see him attempt passes, he said, "Y'all will see."
If the Gators are going to see any success this year, Baugh will likely be a central piece to the equation. His ability on offense can't be overstated, and it could make life much easier for Sumrall as a first-year coach with the Gators.
2026 will be a huge year for Baugh, and if he can duplicate his success from last season, he could easily go in the first-round.
