Pro Football Focus released its list of the top 50 players in college football entering the 2026 season, and Florida running back Jadan Baugh checked in at No. 37. He was the only Gator to make the list and ranked as the fourth-highest running back behind Missouri’s Ahmad Hardy, Ole Miss’ Kewan Lacy and Oklahoma State’s Caleb Hawkins.
“Baugh is a physical runner who should post huge numbers in Buster Faulkner’s creative rushing attack this season,” the PFF team wrote. “Last year, Baugh finished third among SEC running backs with 1,168 rushing yards, 65 missed tackles forced and 35 explosive runs. He’s also fumbled just one time across 354 career carries. Baugh could be a Doak Walker Award candidate this season if all goes well in Florida’s new offense.”
The 6-foot-1, 228-pound running back excels at creating yards after contact, averaging 3.18 yards after contact per carry last season, which ranked fourth among SEC running backs, according to SEC Stat Cat. He also posted a broken tackle rate of 35.59%, trailing only Missouri’s Ahmad Hardy.
Baugh’s combination of size, acceleration, and lateral quickness makes him difficult to bring down in space.
Florida’s staff wants to make sure it is utilizing Baugh’s skill set in multiple ways, not just as a ball carrier. Offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner recently compared the junior running back to NFL star Christian McCaffrey.
“He’s Christian McCaffrey. He reminded me a lot of him,” Faulkner said of Baugh. “Jadan has a great feel for the game. Not just from the backfield, but he can do a lot of other things. He’s got great hands. Really good route runner. So we want to be able to take his game to the next level. If he wants to play for a long time, he’s going to have to be able to do those things. It’s not just going to be carrying the ball.”
Throughout spring camp, Gator Country observed the coaching staff working with Baugh on pass-catching drills and wildcat packages.
Multiple sources, both local and national, believe Baugh is capable of rushing for 1,500 yards in Faulkner’s offense.
Last season, Baugh became the first Florida running back to rush for 1,000 yards since Kelvin Taylor in 2015. He also enters 2026 as the program’s first returning 1,000-yard rusher since Errict Rhett in 1992, according to David Waters of Gators Breakdown.