GAINESVILLE — Florida running back Jadan Baugh cemented a historic night in The Swamp — and a 40-21 defeat of in-state rival Florida State — with a 12-yard rushing touchdown after shaking off two Seminole defenders.​His teammates crowded the sophomore in the end zone, and as Baugh went to the sidelines running back coach Jabbar Juluke hugged him. For the first time in a decade, a Florida running back reached a 1,000-yard season, a total that became Florida’s rallying point in a tumultuous season.​Baugh cradled the game ball in his arms as he spoke during the post-game media conference, ensuring it wouldn’t slip from his grasp. No one could take away his achievement.​By the final whistle, Baugh had 38 carries for a career-high 266 yards, the most in either category by a Gators sophomore and second-highest single-game rushing yardage in UF history behind only Hall-of-Famer Emmitt Smith’s 316. Baugh’s 1,170 season total ranks seventh in program history.​“I’m doing something right,” Baugh said, a small smile creeping onto his face. “Being in a category with those guys, it’s just amazing. I don’t think I can wrap my head around it yet.”​As Florida torpedoed FSU bowl hopes, the Gators could finally enjoy a packed stadium and a tiny moment of history. Baugh is the 10th Florida player — and third underclassman in program history — to achieve this mark, a point last reached in 2015 by Kelvin Taylor.​Through the season, Baugh never brought up the record, said center Jake Slaughter. But the 1,000 yards gave the offensive line an achievable goal — unlike the miraculous turnaround Gators fans wished after the firing of Billy Napier or the extinguished hopes of making a bowl game.​Coach Billy Gonzales was adamant that Baugh would reach the milestone. After all, as the wide receivers coach, he saw Ricky Pearsall come 35 yards of 1,000 receiving yards, and Gonzales said it’s eaten at him ever since.​“Let’s call it what it is. I told the staff he’s getting a 1,000 yards regardless, somehow, some way,” Gonzales said. “Tonight, we were going to get Baugh 1,000 yards. He surpassed it. I love him. I’ve told you before I love him as a person, athlete, a man. He’s just an exceptional football player.”​While Baugh darts around linemen and eludes linebackers with ease, he hasn’t always been a running back. In fact, it’s only his second full year at the position. At Decatur Columbia, a small school east of Atlanta, he played safety, linebacker, returner and more. Baugh initially backed up Royce Tolbert, but with the Gators, the former four-star recruit claimed the spotlight.​Now Baugh is the seventh fastest player to reach more than 1,000 yards with 198 carries at the time he broke the record.  Baugh slides through gaps in running lanes and stiff-arms his way through tackles. In an offense struggling to build momentum, the sophomore shouldered the weight of an SEC program, scoring eight touchdowns this season.​“He works his tail off,” Slaughter said earlier in the week. “He runs hard. He’s a guy’s guy. We love to block for him. He wants to get better.”​Baugh’s breakout season was built upon a solid freshman year during which he recorded 673 yards in 133 carries in 13 games. His momentum going into the season didn’t go unnoticed. Baugh secured a place on the Doak Walker Award Watch List during the preseason, an honor given to the country’s best running back.​When asked about Baugh’s performance, quarterback DJ Lagway laughed.​“Easy day at the ballpark having a guy like him, man,” Lagway said. “He comes in every single day and works. I’m so excited for him and his future. It’s going to be great.”​Baugh and Florida’s future together is uncertain. Any Florida head coaching hires will have five days to try to convince players to stay before a 15-day transfer portal opens.​So if this was Baugh’s last moment with the Gators, he left with a standing ovation from the crowd above the tunnel and a place in Florida’s record books. Take a bow, Jadan Baugh.

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/11/30/rb-baugh-gets-ufs-1st-1000-yard-season-in-decade/