Jadan Baugh's return has been the talk of the offseason, but the Florida Gators still faced the challenge of rebuilding their running back depth after losing key players like Ja’Kobi Jackson, Treyaun Webb, and KD Daniels.
To bolster their backfield, the Gators brought in transfers Evan Pryor from Cincinnati and London Montgomery from East Carolina, alongside returning talents Bryon Louis and Duke Clark. This gives Florida a solid roster of five scholarship running backs to work with.
Newly appointed running backs coach Chris Foster wasted no time, visiting Baugh in Atlanta on his first full day to ensure the star back stayed put. It's clear why Baugh was a priority. Standing at 6’1 and 231 pounds, he earned All-SEC Second Team honors last season with 1,170 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
Baugh is entering the 2026 season as one of college football's top running backs, but Foster sees even more potential. "He’s got a high ceiling," Foster remarked, emphasizing the constant drive for improvement.
Last season, Baugh averaged 5.3 yards per carry, showcasing remarkable consistency even without many long runs. His explosive run rate was impressive, though there's room for growth in breaking longer plays. Foster noted, "He’s a football player with efficient runs that could become explosive with more attention to detail."
Foster is keen on refining Baugh's game, focusing on alignment, play tempo, and understanding his role in routes. "It’s about football IQ," Foster explained. "He has a good foundation, but we want to build on that."
To convince Baugh to stay, Florida's staff showed him film of NFL stars with similar skills, including a comparison to Christian McCaffrey, highlighting how Baugh could thrive in their system. "He’s dynamic and creates mismatches," Foster said, drawing parallels to McCaffrey's impact.
The departure of speedsters like Jackson and Daniels left a gap, which Florida filled by bringing in Evan Pryor. The 5’9, 195-pound back is known for his explosive plays, averaging 7.12 yards per carry over the past two seasons. In 2025, Pryor had 18 runs of 10 or more yards, ranking him second nationally among backs with under 100 carries.
"We needed some home-run speed, and Evan brings that," Foster said, having followed Pryor's career closely.
London Montgomery, another transfer, comes with a strong track record from East Carolina, where he rushed for 1,101 yards and nine touchdowns over two seasons. In 2025, he hit career highs with 742 yards and seven scores.
Foster, familiar with Montgomery from his time at East Carolina, praised his productivity: "He was a very productive back for them."
Returning for his second season, Duke Clark showed promise last year, particularly in Florida's upset over Texas, where he stepped up with 38 yards on nine carries. "Duke is explosive," Foster said, excited about Clark's potential.
The Gators also have rising redshirt freshman Bryon Louis, who played in one game last season. "I’m really excited about Bryon," Foster shared, noting his physical style and eagerness to improve.
As with any position, playing time will be earned on the practice field. "We don’t have a depth chart, we got a rep chart.
They gotta earn it," Foster emphasized. The spring practices will be crucial in determining who steps up, with only Baugh having significant SEC experience.