Florida’s offense has its headliners for 2026, but the season could still be shaped by the players sitting just outside the spotlight.
Jadan Baugh is expected to handle most of the work in the backfield, and the receiving group already looks loaded with Vernell Brown III, Dallas Wilson and Eric Singleton Jr. That trio gives Florida what should be one of the most dangerous wideout groups in the country. Still, camp always has a way of elevating a few names that weren’t getting much attention in the spring.
Duke Clark is one of them. The true freshman logged 15 carries last year, and after spring camp he appeared to have the edge for the RB2 job over transfer Evan Pryor. Florida could still give its backup back 5-8 carries a game, and Clark’s speed from his high school days gives him a chance to settle in as a change-of-pace option if he wins that role.
At receiver, Micah Mays was the spring’s quiet surprise. He arrived from Wake Forest without much buzz, but his name kept coming up throughout camp, especially while Dallas Wilson was unavailable for some of the reps. Mays finished the spring game with 122 yards and two touchdowns, and if Wilson or another receiver runs into injury issues in 2026, Mays looks like a player who could get his shot.
Bailey Stockton fits a similar mold, though he entered with a little more attention because he came from Georgia Tech and already knew the offense Buster Faulkner was set to run. Injuries have followed Stockton through his college career, but if he stays on the field, he has a path to becoming a real threat.
Then there’s Eagan Boyer, who could matter simply because Florida’s offensive line remains the biggest question mark on the roster. Jon Sumrall has already made it clear the Gators will keep shuffling pieces until they find the right mix.
Emeka Ugorji held the inside track at left tackle after spring camp, but Boyer still has a chance to push for his own role. He has plenty left to prove, yet the door is open for him to make noise before the season is over.
In Other News...
Florida Linebackers Face Early Pressure In Jon Sumralls Defensive Reset
Floridas linebacker room is suddenly one of the most important parts of Jon Sumralls defensive reset, with the Gators leaning into a 3-4 look that puts extra weight on that position group. Under Sumrall and defensive coordinator Brad White, the goal is to build a defense that gets its best play from the middle of the field, and that means the next wave of Florida linebackers has to develop fast with the 2026 season in mind.
Myles Graham, Jaden Robinson and Aaron Chiles are expected to be at the center of that push, but the depth chart also has names worth watching behind them. Ty Jackson, Myles Johnson and incoming freshman Malik Morris give Florida some options, yet the bigger question is how quickly that entire group can adapt to a scheme that asks linebackers to do plenty of the heavy lifting. The Gators are clearly treating this as a position that can shape the defenses ceiling, not just fill it. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Gets An Early Reality Check In Jon Sumrall Era
Florida opens a new chapter this fall under Jon Sumrall after the program moved on from Billy Napier, and the preseason picture around the Gators has been a reminder that a reset does not automatically come with instant respect. Florida checked in at No. 17 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Top 25, while the preseason All-SEC media poll pegged the Gators to finish ninth in the league, a spot that reflects both the skepticism outside Gainesville and the work still ahead in a rugged conference.
There is still enough talent here to make the conversation interesting. Florida returns five starters on each side of the ball, and a handful of players picked up preseason All-SEC recognition, which gives Sumrall a base to build from even in a year that begins with tempered expectations. The challenge now is turning that mix of returning pieces and preseason praise into something more convincing once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
5 Games Florida Fans Can Watch While Waiting On Gators Kickoff
Fall camp is getting underway this week in Gainesville, which means the long wait for Floridas season opener against FAU on Sept. 5 is finally starting to shrink. Until then, there are a handful of games worth keeping an eye on for Gators fans looking to scratch the football itch, from the Hall of Fame Game to early preseason action and even a high school matchup tied to a Florida recruit.
Among the most interesting is the NFL preseason game involving Anthony Richardson, along with a high school game featuring recruit Braxton Rein and a college game that puts former Florida coach Dan Mullen back in the spotlight. They are all different in setting, but each gives Gators fans a reason to stay plugged in while the real countdown to kickoff continues. [Read more 🡒]