The Florida Gators added two running backs from the high school ranks that are welcomed additions to the 2024 roster.
“These two backs that we added to our team, they’re both exceptional,” Billy Napier said during Wednesday’s press conference.
Kahnen Daniels
The Mississippi native attended West Point High School where he totaled 5,541 rushing yards and 58 touchdowns in his career. In just his senior season alone, Kahnen Daniels rushed for 2,484 yards and 26 touchdowns while averaging 9.6 yards per carry. The 5’11, 191-pound back had a career game that season where he rushed for 427 yards and 6 touchdowns on 38 attempts. The four-star back also scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery and averaged 11.2 yards per carry that game. In the following matchup, Daniels rushed for three more touchdowns on top of 190 rushing yards.
“He’s a team captain. He won a state championship. He’s Player of the Year in his classification at Mississippi,” Napier said on Daniels. “He’s got a phenomenal story when you get a chance to get to know KD and the things he’s overcome and the people that have impacted his life, the program that he plays for, the toughness. If you’re from West Port, Mississippi, you’re a tough dude. He’s been a guy that sets the tone in the program. Not only a tough program, but we got the toughest dude out of a tough program. So KD, it’s impressive to watch his body of work as a runner.”
Daniels was a former three-star running back that surged in the rankings and earned himself a fourth star after his impressive senior season. The Top 200 prospect was the No. 13 running back in the class of 2024 and committed to the Gators back in April. Daniels held offers from teams like Alabama, Auburn, Oregon and Michigan State. Florida and Mississippi State were the two teams to beat in the end.
Jadan Baugh
The former Arkansas commit can do it all as a running back. During his junior season, Jadan Baugh caught a total of 27 passes for 442 yards and five touchdowns while adding another 306 rushing yards on just 15 carries. As a senior, the Georgia native took a major leap forward rushing for 1583 yards and 19 touchdowns on 113 carries while averaging 14 yards per carry. The athletic back also recorded 531 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
“Jadan Baugh. In my opinion, if you just go watch senior film and you know that guy is 6″ and 3/4s. He weighed 230 pounds on his official visit,” Napier said. “He’s carrying the ball, running routes, playing safety, linebacker, wildcat quarterback.”
Baugh attended Columbia High School in Georgia where he was ranked the No. 17 athlete in the country with offers from teams like Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee, and Alabama who made a big push for the running back towards the end of his recruitment.
“You go in his school, he’s the president in that place,” Napier said on Baugh’s character. “Every teacher, every administrator that you meet, Jadan Baugh is an exceptional young man. His mom and dad are incredible. So a lot of great stories in this group.”
The four-star running back stands at 6’0, 230 pounds and has the potential to bring a different dynamic to the Gators running back room in 2024.
Daniels and Baugh join a running back room that consists of Montrell Johnson, Treyaun Webb, and Cam Caroll.