Florida Gators RB a 'Need to Know Name' in 2025

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hugh Green | Last updated Jul 19, 2025 3:20 PM ET

The Florida Gators are entering the 2025 college football season with high hopes. While head coach Billy Napier's squad was predicted to finish sixth in the SEC, the wealth of talent on Florida's roster is not something to scoff at.

A big reason Gator fans are coming into this season excited about their team is the dynamic duo Florida has in its backfield. Quarterback DJ Lagway and running back Jadan Baugh are both coming off very impressive freshman years and are looking for even better sophomore campaigns.

After the conclusion of SEC Football Media Days this week, ESPN's Cole Cubelic released his "Need to Know Names in the SEC" for the upcoming season, naming Baugh as one.

Baugh is the lone Gator on Cubelic's list of eight players and is one of two running backs he named, along with Vanderbilt Commodores tailback Sedrick Alexander.

The Atlanta, Georgia, native broke out in a big way in his first career start, which came against the Kentucky Wildcats in 2024. He tied a single-game program record with five rushing touchdowns in the game on 22 carries and 106 yards.

In total last season, Baugh led the Gators with 673 rushing yards and had seven scores on the ground. He averaged an incredible 5.1 yards per carry, leading to a selection on the Freshman All-SEC team.

With Baugh having a full year under his belt and now being the undisputed first-string running back, it will be time to "run the Baugh" often in 2025.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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