Florida's Jadan Baugh Remains True Contender for Doak Walker Award

Florida Gators running back Jadan Baugh has been elite to start the 2026 season, helping the team start off 2-0.

In Florida's Week 1 win over Florida Atlantic, Baugh rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries. He was dominant in the run game again in Week 2 against Campbell, as he had 136 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.

He entered the season as one of the best running backs in college football and has only gotten better thus far in 2026. With Baugh's play, he will be a contender to win the Doak Walker Award, which is given to the top running back in the country.

The Gators' offense leans on Baugh for explosive plays as they look to bounce back from last season. Florida finished 4-8 in 2025, leading to a coaching change, with Jon Sumrall taking over this offseason. 

Baugh was one of the few bright spots for the Gators in 2025, rushing for 1,170 yards and eight touchdowns while catching 33 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns.

He is on track to surpass these numbers in 2026 and help the Gators continue their push to become a ranked program. If Baugh plays at this level for the entire season, he will likely be the first running back off the board in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Sumrall brought in a ton of talent through the transfer portal to improve the team, and it has helped Florida be victorious in the first two weeks of the season. Sumrall has also done a great job establishing the culture after he had a ton of success at Troy and Tulane. 

In his two years at Troy, he led them to a 23-4 record before going to Tulane, where he led them to a 20-8 record and a College Football Playoff appearance. With the resources the Gators possess, Sumrall has quickly turned them into a competitive program, and they could make a push for the College Football Playoff in the near future.

Florida will continue to lean on Baugh as their top offensive weapon and look to improve to 3-0 with a matchup against the Auburn Tigers in Week 3.