Jadan Baugh sits deep on the current depth chart for the Florida Gators. While that may not surprise anyone due to the fact that Baugh is a freshman, at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, he doesn’t look like a regular freshman.
In fact, when given enough support, he often shows that his maturity in football belies his age.
Baugh should start the rest of this season, moving into the next one as a starter or as a 1b in a two-back system. In short, Baugh is in two eras: he should be starting for the University of Florida now and in the future.
Well-known ceiling
Montrell Johnson runs the ball well. He uses decent vision and feet to generate yards. But after three seasons in Gainesville, do you really believe he will improve dramatically over the next five games? Recently, the Gators offense started firing on all cylinders, making big plays in the pass and run.
Still, Johnson missed time due to injury. Honestly, when healthy, can Johnson consistently provide a spark on the spot to keep defenses off balance? In a word: no. Granted, Johnson moves forward with power and timing, he looks maxed out when it comes to athletic palette.
Kentucky outbreak
Forced into action, Baugh left Lexington after scoring five times in a loss to Kentucky. Now, one cannot use any single play as a benchmark to gauge whether a running back should take on the role of starter. It should also be noted that Auburn’s Jarquez Hunter torched Kentucky’s defense for 278 yards on Saturday, but Hunter is a senior, All-SEC running back – good company for Baugh.
Meanwhile, if you look at the way he scored those touchdowns, it further clarifies the argument. Four one-yard and a seven-yard touchdowns. That shows Baugh as a tough runner with a nose for the end zone. But as you backpedal you can see the burst at work, enough to find an alley and get into the field, which is what every team needs.
In short
Jadan Baugh runs fast. There is a movie in which this happens several times. With DJ Lagway and less mileage than Montrell Johnson, he needs starting reps or a well-deserved rise. Football, in its purest form, remains a kind of meritocracy.
Baugh has put in the effort and work to justify his ascension to the starting spot. With Florida seeking bowl eligibility, a back who can punish a defense makes the most sense to draw defenders into the box.
Additionally, with fewer bodies in the room, throwing lanes open up for the offense. Either way, Jadan Baugh will once again make his mark on the Florida Gators before the final blow sounds.
That’s not a prediction, but rather a spoiler.
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