UF football position preview: Running back

GAINESVILLE —  Here is the second in a position-by-position preview of the UF football team leading up to SEC Media Days.

TODAY: RUNNING BACK

What to expect

No position offers head coach Billy Napier more options, a testament to his track record with running backs and position coach Jabbar Juluke’s ability to get talent. Earning carries will not easy, but Napier also spreads the wealth to keep legs fresh at a position where wear and tear is a given, and injuries are common. In 2024, three tailbacks had at least 95 carries.

With Montrell Johnson Jr., a career 3,000-yard rusher, off to the NFL, sophomore Jadan Baugh —  who led UF with 133 carries for 673 yards and 7 scores — and redshirt senior Ja’Kobi Jackson (95, 507, 7) top the depth chart. Baugh’s cutting ability and wiggle at 6-foot ¾, 230 pounds are rare. The 5-foot-10 ½, 216-pound Jackson showcased his skill set with a spring-game record 198 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 90-yard scamper.

Treyaun Webb pushed to get into the mix last fall until a fractured leg ended the sophomore’s season and required surgery. The sole highlight of KD Daniels’ first college season was his heady 27-yard touchdown after he scooped a fumble by quarterback DJ Lagway during the UFs 33-8 Gasparilla Bowl win against Tulane.

Webb and Daniels each will push for a role in 2024 but will have competition from incoming freshman Duke Clark, a versatile 4-star prospect from Tampa Plant with 54 touchdowns (38 rushing, 16 receiving) the past three seasons. UF also welcomes former Plantation American Heritage standout Byron Louis, a 4-star prospect who rushed 2,943 yards and 34 scores the past two seasons.

Chad Gasper Jr., a 3-star recruit from Katy, Texas, who was injured much of last season, is the third running back in the 2025 class as UF continues to stockpile talent at a position critical to the Gators’ offensive philosophy.

Napier’s first Florida team finished fifth in the SEC running the ball but ranked ninth in 2024 a season after finishing eighth. This from a coach whose Louisiana squads led the Sun Belt Conference in rushing in 2019, finished third in 2018 and 2021, and fourth in 2020.

What they’re saying

“The standard’s the standard. We’re going to practice hard, we’re going to play hard, we’re going to be fundamentally sound. We’re going to make sure we know our assignments, and we’re gonna give everything we have. Effort is not going to be an option. We have non-negotiables. When they don’t do what we supposed to do, then we have problems.” — Juluke, Napier’s running backs coach since 2018.

Returnees

Jadan BaughKD DanielsJa’Kobi JacksonTreyaun Webb

Departures

Montrell Johnson Jr.Cam Carroll

New arrivals

Duke Clark (Tampa Plant), true freshmanChad Gasper Jr. (Katy (Texas) Jordan), true freshmanByron Louis (Plantation American Heritage), true freshman

Projected depth chart (offseason)

RB1 — Jadan BaughRB2 — Ja’Kobi JacksonRB3 — Treyaun WebbRB4 — KD DanielsRB5 — Duke Clark

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com.