Florida already knew it had star running back Jadan Baugh back in the fold for the 2026 season.
Now, things at the running back position have gotten even better in Gainesville, with Thursday night’s commitment of East Carolina transfer London Montgomery. He’s headed to the SEC from the American Conference, which is quite a step up, but Florida is getting a talented back who ran for 742 yards and 7 touchdowns during the 2025 season.
Montgomery, who also averaged 4.8 yards per carry for the Pirates this past fall, began his visit to Gainesville on Wednesday. Just one day later, Montgomery made his decision, and it was Florida, which now has lured Baugh back and lured Montgomery from East Carolina in a very short time.
He’s a 5-foot-11, 197-pound product of Scranton, Pa., and it’s already been a whirlwind collegiate career for Montgomery, who began his career at Penn State. Montgomery transferred to East Carolina before the 2024 season, and 2 years later he’s heading back to the big time, with a huge challenge within the SEC.
In those 2 seasons at East Carolina, Montgomery ran for 1,101 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also averaged 4.9 yards per carry, so Montgomery has consistently showed an ability to produce with the ball in his hands.
That’s what Florida hopes to be getting more of in 2026.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
