Florida Gators keep top running back while navigating transfer portal
When Jon Sumrall took Florida’s head coaching job a month ago, he made his first objective clear: “Roster-building — it starts with our current team,” he said through his distinct linebacker-turned-coach rasp. It felt real, meant.
Consider his declaration made.
Florida star running back Jadan Baugh announced last Tuesday he would stay in Gainesville for another year. After concluding Florida’s disappointing season with 1,170 yards and eight touchdowns, including a 266-yard, two-touchdown final outing against Florida State, Baugh projects as an early round NFL Draft pick in 2027. He became the first Florida player in 10 years to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in a season and led the Gators in rushing during his freshman year (673 yards), as well.
“Jadan’s a workhorse; he’s an extremely gifted young man. His size, his strength, his athleticism, his speed,” interim coach Billy Gonzales said during the season. “He’s a special football player.”
The price of Baugh’s return is steep. Florida’s NIL arm will pay him more than $1 million, CBS Sports first reported, and sources indicated to the Herald. The price tag will be one of the highest for his position, marking a potential rise in running back compensation in the collegiate ranks. Florida surely feels it was worth it.
While maintaining two lives — still coaching Tulane in the College Football Playoff and meeting with Florida’s roster — Sumrall lost one of the Gators’ most integral players to the transfer portal: quarterback DJ Lagway. With his departure, retaining Baugh became necessary for what Sumrall is trying to establish.
As Florida’s second consecutive Group of 5 hire, Sumrall is fighting an image battle with the Gator fan base, for whom the failures of Billy Napier have left a lingering sting. But those same supporters also remember running back Trevor Etienne leaving for Georgia two years ago, so these were easy brownie points.
Not that Sumrall hasn’t made ground up elsewhere. In the last two weeks, Florida’s freshman receivers Dallas Wilson and Vernell Brown III each announced they would return. Had Wilson entered the portal, he was expected to place near the top of the transfer market, though Brown led the Gators in receiving with 512 yards.
All of Florida’s starting linebackers, Myles Graham, Aaron Chiles and Jaden Robinson, will be back. Same for starting defensive backs Dijon Johnson, Bryce Thornton and Cormani McClain, and the 2024 cycle’s top edge prospect, LJ McCray.
Aside from Lagway, who seemingly committed to Baylor before rescinding his commitment, defensive tackle Michai Boireau, safety Jordan Castell, and nickel backs Sharif Denson and Aaron Gates are Florida’s only other consistent starters who have entered the portal.
In a corresponding move, the Gators have added 15 players through the transfer portal, although none beyond Auburn receiver Eric Singleton Jr. stand out. He tallied 534 yards this year after a pair of 700-yard seasons at Georgia Tech. On that note, Tech quarterback Aaron Philo, who tallied three touchdowns and three interceptions in reserve duty behind Haynes King, might be Florida’s starter next year, competing with Tramell Jones Jr. Philo followed offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner from Georgia Tech.
When examining who else Florida added, you may notice a trend. Philo is one of four Georgia Tech offensive players to commit to Florida (not including Singleton). Similarly, two Tulane special teamers followed Sumrall and Florida special teams coordinator Johnathan Galante from New Orleans. Two Penn State offensive linemen also joined offensive line coach Phil Trautwein from Happy Valley, and Kentucky safety Cam Dooley came with defensive coordinator Brad White from Lexington