Florida redshirt freshman running back KD Daniels is heading to the transfer portal when it officially opens on January 2nd, signaling a new chapter in a young career that’s had flashes of promise despite limited opportunities in Gainesville.
Daniels saw action in 10 games this season, finishing with 28 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown, while adding three receptions for 14 yards. Not eye-popping numbers, but they don’t tell the full story of a player who’s been buried in one of the deepest running back rooms in the SEC.
A former four-star recruit, Daniels came into Florida with plenty of hype, but found himself behind a crowded backfield rotation. Fellow freshman Jadan Baugh, along with veterans Montrell Johnson Jr. and Ja’Kobi Jackson, took on the bulk of the carries in 2024. As a result, Daniels appeared in just four games that season, preserving his redshirt after tallying 77 yards on 11 carries and one score.
Coming into 2025, Daniels was looking to carve out a bigger role. But the Gators weren’t short on talent.
Baugh and Jackson returned, Treyaun Webb was still in the mix, and Florida added three more backs from the high school ranks: Byron Louis, Duke Clark, and Chad Gasper Jr. That kind of depth made it tough for Daniels to break through early.
Still, football has a way of opening doors when you stay ready. Injuries hit the Gators’ backfield in the second half of the season, and Daniels found himself back in the rotation.
Backing up Baugh, he logged four carries for 20 yards and added two catches for 14 yards in a tough 38-7 road loss at Kentucky. Earlier in the year, he made the most of a short-yardage opportunity, scoring on a direct snap in Florida’s 23-21 win over Mississippi State - a play that showcased his burst and vision in tight space.
Interim head coach Billy Gonzales spoke highly of Daniels back in early November, praising both his physical tools and his mindset.
“He’s explosive,” Gonzales said. “He’s got incredible work ethic, he’s got a great first step.
We feel very strong about him. But just like anything else, it takes patience and time to learn the system.
We’ve had a really good stable of running backs here. Coach Jabbar Juluke does an incredible job mentoring and developing players.
Patience is key - when your time comes, you’ve got to be ready, and I think that’s what KD’s done.”
Daniels becomes the second Florida player to announce plans to enter the portal on Monday, joining quarterback DJ Lagway, a fellow member of the 2024 signing class.
For Daniels, the move is about finding a clearer path to playing time. The talent is there - he’s shown flashes when given the chance - and with a full year of college football under his belt, he’ll enter the portal as a player with upside, experience, and a hunger to prove he can be more than just a depth piece. Wherever he lands next, Daniels will be one to watch.