Florida's backfield group is one to watch out for
Florida Gators 2025 Position Preview: Running Backs originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier has always loved to run the ball. In his coaching career, Napier's teams have been known to have incredible running back rooms.
This has especially been true since he took over in Gainesville. Last year, the Gators rushed for 161 yards per game and had one of the best backfield groups in the SEC. Now, even with one of Florida's top rushers gone from a year ago, the Gators still have a loaded running back group in 2025.
With Montrell Johnson Jr. leaving for the NFL, the top of the backfield belongs to a sophomore coming off a very impressive freshman year and a veteran poised for a big 2025.
Florida's leading rusher from 2024 is back with Napier to join star quarterback DJ Lagway in the backfield. Jadan Baugh, who earned Freshman All-SEC honors last season, broke out in a big way in his first career start, which came against Kentucky last season. He rushed for 106 yards and an absurd five touchdowns, tying a single-game program record.
In total last year, Baugh led the Gators in rushing yards with 673, attempts with 133 and was tied for the team-high with seven scores on the ground. Coming off this monstrous freshman season, he is ready for another big year in 2025.
The back who was tied with Baugh for the team lead in rushing touchdowns was Ja'Kobi Jackson, who is entering his fifth collegiate season and third in Gainesville. Jackson played in all 13 games last year with one start. The Pensacola, Florida, native ran the ball 95 times for 509 yards and seven touchdowns.
Behind Baugh and Jackson in the depth chart will likely be redshirt sophomore Treyaun Webb and redshirt freshman KD Daniels. Webb started as Florida's backup last year for the first four games before suffering a season-ending fractured tibia, earning a redshirt. He totaled 98 yards on the ground and one score.
As for Daniels, he was one of the top running back prospects in the country in the 2024 class out of West Point, Mississippi. Like Webb, Daniels played four games last season. He had 11 carries for 77 yards and one touchdown, which came in Florida's Gasparilla Bowl victory over the Tulane Green Wave.
Although Lagway will get most of the headlines before the 2025 season, the Gators' loaded backfield group will definitely be one to watch out for.
Athlon Sports' Florida Gators 2025 Position Previews:
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
