It’s easy to picture Florida’s 2026 season with one of those rosters that can flip a play in a heartbeat. The Gators have a handful of players who may not be the biggest names on the team, but they do have the kind of burst that makes people sit up when they touch the ball or close on a tackle.
Duke Clark fits that mold at running back. Jaden Baugh is the headliner there, and there’s a good chance he piles up around 20 touches a game and still leaves fans wanting more.
But the backup job is still up for grabs, and Clark has a real chance to get some attention in 2026. Baugh brings more power than speed, while Clark showed plenty of pop in high school, including a 10.77-second 100-meter dash as a junior.
Vernell Brown III is a different kind of threat. He’s not flying under the radar the way Clark is, and he already showed flashes of his explosiveness as a true freshman, especially as a punt returner. If Buster Faulkner’s offense opens up the way people expect, Brown looks like a player who could do damage after the catch.
On the defensive side, Jayden Woods has the kind of first step that can wreck an offensive line’s plans in a hurry. Florida and Jon Sumrall made him a priority to keep for 2026, and his explosiveness gives him a chance to be a real problem along the line. He’ll need help around him, of course, but against weaker SEC tackles, he could cause plenty of chaos.
Myles Graham brings a similar kind of energy at linebacker. He’s the type who just seems to fly around the field, and that explosiveness lets him make plays on his own. It will be interesting to see how much more that skill set gets unleashed now that he’s no longer tied to the passivity of the Ron Roberts defense in 2026.
The list closes with another name that might not be on everyone’s radar: Alfonzo Allen Jr. There’s a real chance he ends up buried on the depth chart after spring camp and doesn’t see the field at all in 2026.
But he already showed what he can do last year, when he logged 82 snaps against Mississippi State and played like a wrecking ball coming downhill. Among Florida’s safeties, Allen has the most explosiveness, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Sumrall finds a way to get him involved.
In Other News...
Florida May Have One Answer To Its Biggest Line Concern
Florida spent much of the spring looking for stability on the interior of its offensive line, and TJ Shanahan Jr. quickly emerged as one of the more encouraging answers. The redshirt junior transferred in from Penn State and brought the kind of experience and physical presence the Gators need as Jon Sumralls staff begins shaping the roster for 2026, with offensive line coach Phil Trautwein already familiar with what Shanahan can offer.
Shanahan left spring practice as the projected leader for the open right guard job, which says plenty about how the staff views him entering fall camp. He is still going to have to hold off Bryce Lovett, but the early read is clear enough: Florida believes Shanahan can help settle a spot that has been a concern, and his clean work in 2025 at Penn State only adds to the optimism around him. [Read more 🡒]
Thomas Haughs Return Just Changed What Florida Can Become
Thomas Haughs decision to come back to Florida for the 2026-27 season gives the Gators a major piece to build around after he had been viewed as a potential lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The return matters even more because he is not coming back alone, with Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu also set to be back in Gainesville, keeping a core intact that should give Florida real continuity heading into next season.
Haugh pointed to the current college basketball landscape as a big reason for staying, describing it as player-friendly and noting the opportunities available through Floridas collective. The broader picture could get even more interesting from there, since upcoming legislation may open the door for another season after this one, leaving Florida with the possibility of a longer runway than anyone expected when Haugh first started to look like a pro-level departure. [Read more 🡒]