Florida returned their lead backs in Montrell Johnson and Trevor Etienne from a year ago where they combined for 1,560 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns in 2022. The pair averaged 5.74 yards per carry, establishing themselves as one of the best duos in college football.
Expectations for the Gators are low in 2023, but Florida’s dangerous backfield is considered the strength of the roster leading into fall camp. However, Johnson and Etienne are not focused on personal goals for the upcoming season.
“We talked about this. Me and Trevor, we try not to focus on goals,” junior running back Montrell Johnson said. “We just go out there and play. Try to go out there and help the team as much as we can, and I feel like the goal is going is come at the end. I feel like it’s been working out for us.”
With two potential NFL running backs leading Florida’s backfield, one might think that competing for playing time could be a stressful and intense situation; that is not the case for Florida’s duo. Johnson and Etienne have previously noted that they like splitting reps with each other as it keeps them fresh for four quarters.
“We don’t kind of look at it as competitors, but we know we’re competing at the same time,” Johnson said. “It’s kind of like I’m trying to make you better, you’re trying to make me better relationship kind of thing. Anything I see on film, I call him and tell him you’ve got to do this better, do this better.”
“In the running back room, we cheer each other on,” Johnson added. “It doesn’t matter who’s on the field, we’re going to cheer each other on.”
The Gators lost Lorenzo Linguard and Nay’Quan Wright through the transfer portal in the offseason, but responded by adding transfer RBs Cam Carroll and Ja’Kobi Jackson, as well as freshman Treyaun Webb.
The RB unit consists of one freshman, one sophomore, two juniors, and a redshirt senior in Cam Carroll.
“It’s a very young group,” junior running back Montrell Johnson said during the start of fall camp. “We have Cam Carroll, he’s kind of an older guy. I feel like we kind of look up to him as the experienced player here. So we kind of look up to him. We just get pointers from him, and we kind of just lean on him.”
“He’s a bruiser,” Johnson added. “He’s six foot, 230, and he’s going to wear down the defense, and that’s what we need.”
JUCO transfer Ja’Kobi Jackson has impressed Johnson throughout summer workouts.
“Ja’Kobi is a great player. He’s shifty. He’s fast,” Johnson said.
Most have casted Jackson as the 5th running back in the room and a non-factor for the 2023 season; Johnson doesn’t see it that way.
“I feel like he’s going to shock the world, as well, come fall, and I feel like a lot of people doubt him,” Johnson added.
The talent in Florida’s backfield is undeniable, but one area that the Gators could improve on is their utilization of their running backs in the passing game. The running backs combined for just 24 catches for 160 yards and one touchdown in Billy Napier’s first season as Florida’s head coach and play caller.
In Billy Napier’s four seasons at Louisiana, the Rajin’ Cajuns backfield combined for 39.75 catches and 401 yards a season, with each season total eclipsing Florida’s in 2022.
“As you know, we didn’t use running backs in the passing game a lot last year,” Johnson said. “I feel like we’re implementing it this year. I feel like we’re implement it this year. We’ve been working on a lot of stuff out of the backfield with the running backs, stuff in the slot with the running backs, so I’m excited for this year.”
Florida’s running backs were seen running routes and catching passes out of the backfield during the first practice of fall camp. I expect a significant jump in receptions and receiving yards for the Gators’ running back room in 2023.