Jadan Baugh becomes Florida’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2015
By David Wasson
Published:
Even in the midst of a dreadful season, the Florida Gators were able to celebrate a significant individual accomplishment Saturday during their rivalry matchup against Florida State.
Florida running back Jadan Baugh hit the 1,000-yard rushing plateau for a single season in the first half against the Seminoles and is now the 11th 1,000-yard rusher in a single season in Gators history.
Baugh entered the game needing 96 rushing yards and got there on the nose via a 4-yard carry from the FSU 15 with 6:51 remaining in the second quarter. The carry was Baugh’s 16th of the game and 198th of the season, making him the first Florida underclassman to hit 1,000 yards in under 200 carries since Emmitt Smith did it as a freshman in 1987 en route to 1,341 yards on 151 carries.
Baugh’s 1,000 rushing yards makes him the first Gator to hit that mark since Kelvin Taylor finished with 1,035 yards in 2015. And at 198 carries, Baugh’s 1,000 yards were the seventh-fastest via carries – with Jimmy DuBose going for 1,307 yards on just 140 carries in 1975.
Baugh rushed for 673 yards and 133 carries and 7 touchdowns as a freshman in 2024. He has 6 rushing scores this season through halftime of Saturday’s Florida State game.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
