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Gators Assemble Potent Running Back Room for 2026 Season
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Florida football appears poised to field one of the nation’s most formidable running back groups in 2026,bolstered by key additions from the transfer portal and the return of star junior Jadan Baugh. Head coach Jon Sumrall’s roster currently stands at 106 players as of January 23rd, with spring practice slated to begin on tuesday, March 3rd, culminating in the annual Orange and Blue Game on Saturday, April 11th.
Building Depth and Experience
Florida’s running back room has quickly ascended to a position of strength, combining established talent with promising newcomers. The group is anchored by the return of Jadan Baugh, a proven commodity who led the team in rushing in 2025.
Jadan baugh: The Cornerstone
Junior Jadan Baugh is expected to lead the charge in 2026, having established himself as a premier talent in college football.Following a breakout sophomore campaign, Baugh earned All-SEC Second Team honors after amassing 1,170 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on an extraordinary 5.3 yards per carry.
Baugh’s performance marked a significant milestone,becoming the first Gator since Kelvin Taylor in 2015 to surpass 1,000 rushing yards in a single season. He finished third in the SEC in rushing yards and 14th nationally among all FBS players. Beyond his rushing prowess, Baugh demonstrated versatility as a receiver, hauling in 33 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns, while also proving capable in pass protection.
“He’s uniquely light on his feet and quick out of the backfield,” one analyst noted, highlighting Baugh’s arduous-to-match combination of power and agility. His return is widely considered a major win for Coach Sumrall as he embarks on his first season in Gainesville.
Transfer Portal Additions Bolster the Attack
Despite Baugh’s established presence, the Gators weren’t content to rely on a single star.Thay successfully recruited East Carolina’s London Montgomery, ranked as the 10th best running back in the transfer portal. The redshirt sophomore led the Pirates with 742 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 2025, averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
Montgomery’s journey began at Penn State in 2023, where he redshirted, before transferring to East Carolina in 2024. He also brings special teams experience, having accumulated 114 kickoff return yards in 2025.Pro Football Focus graded Montgomery as East Carolina’s fourth-best offensive player, noting his ability to average 2.78 yards after contact, force 22 missed tackles, and consistently gain 15+ yards on seven separate runs.
Adding to the depth, Florida also secured the services of Cincinnati’s evan Pryor, a rising redshirt senior.Pryor totaled 522 rushing yards and three touchdowns with the Bearcats last season, and over the past two seasons, he’s accumulated 940 yards and nine touchdowns.His efficiency is particularly noteworthy, boasting an impressive 7.12 yards per carry over the 2024-25 seasons.
According to Dylan Olive of SI, 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 fewer than 100 attempts. Pryor also excels at gaining yards after contact, averaging 4.2 yards in that category last season. With three running backs already possessing 500+ rushing yard seasons, the Gators have clearly prioritized building a versatile and powerful rushing attack.
Developing Depth: Clark and Louis
Rounding out the running back room are redshirt freshmen Duke Clark and Bryon Louis. Clark played a crucial role in Florida’s upset victory over Texas, contributing 38 yards on nine carries as Baugh’s backup due to injuries. The 6’1″,211-pound back demonstrated toughness against a formidable Texas defensive front.
Louis, a summer enrollee, redshirted in 2025 and saw limited action in a single game. Standing at 5’11.5″ and weighing 211 pounds, he will look to carve out a more significant role in the upcoming season.
