Rising junior star running back Jadan Baugh announced his return to Florida for the 2026 season on Tuesday afternoon, a massive boost for Gator Nation. Still, his decision left Florida with just three scholarship running backs, making the position a clear priority in the transfer portal.
The Gators addressed that need by adding Cincinnati running back Evan Pryor, a redshirt senior who brings experience and one year of eligibility.
Pryor ranks as the 196th overall player in the transfer portal and the 16th running back.
In two seasons with the Bearcats, Pryor rushed for 940 yards and nine rushing touchdowns on an impressive 7.1 yards per carry. The 5’9, 195 pound back also caught 25 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns across the 2024-25 seasons.
Pryor served as Cincinnati’s second-string running back in both seasons, a role he’s likely to maintain in Gainesville.
18 of Pryor’s 76 rushing attempts in 2025 went for 10 or more yards, the second most in the country among running backs with less than under 100 attempts, according to Dylan Olive of SI.
Pryor led the Bearcats’ backfield last season with an average of 4.2 yards after contact, showcasing his physical running style. In 2024, Pryor averaged 5.04 yards after contact. Over the past two seasons, Pryor has forced 25 missed tackles on just 132 rushing attempts, including 15 on 76 carries in 2025 and 10 on 56 rushes in 2024.
For comparison, Jadan Baugh forced 66 missed tackles on 221 attempts, establishing himself as one of the best backs in the country at creating yards after contact.
As a top 100 prospect in the 2021 class, Pryor signed with Ohio State out of Hough High School in Cornelius, North Carolina. Pyror spent three seasons with the Buckeyes in reserved role, combining for 147 yards and a touchdown on 40 carries.
Pryor is an explosive runner with great acceleration and home run speed, as highlighted by his career long run of 65 yards and career long reception of 80 yards. Pryor is a balanced runner that stays low to the ground, allowing him leverage to slip through defenders and create additional yards. His proven pass catching ability allows him to play on all three downs.
Pryor should serve as a great change of pace back for junior Jadan Baugh.