Through its current two-game losing streak, Florida football has found a bright spot in a one-two rushing punch that could end up critical to its success during the final stretch of the 2024 season.
Florida Gators junior running back Ja’Kobi Jackson rushed for 116 yards and 1 TD on 19 carries against Texas, while freshman running back Jadan Baugh added 88 yards on 19 carries and 1 TD.
With freshman quarterback DJ Lagway’s status still uncertain this week, the running back duo of Jackson and Baugh could play an important role again at The Swamp when UF (4-5, 2-4 SEC) hosts No. 22 LSU (6-3, 3-2 SEC) on Saturday (3:30 p.m., ABC). LSU enters the matchup ranked 14th in the SEC in stopping the run, surrendering 150.8 yards per game on the ground
“We’re pretty confident,” Jackson said. “We know we have to get started in the trenches of the defense and O-line. We know that whoever win that battle, that’s usually who comes out on top. We know if we win in the trenches, we have a chance.”
The 5-foot-11, 209-pound Jackson, a redshirt junior from Pensacola Catholic High, spent three years at Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, Miss., before transferring to UF and redshirting in 2023. For the season, Jackson has rushed for 343 yards and 5 TDs on 5.8 yards per carry, showing a blend of power and speed in his run style.
“I’m pretty much both,” Jackson said. “It all depends. On short yardage, I know I’m not trying to do really any juke moves, I’m trying to get the first down. Open field, yeah, every now and then.”
The 6-1, 227-pound Baugh, a true freshman, also has taken advantage of increased carries due to injuries to Montrell Johnson Jr. and Treyaun Webb. Baugh has rushed for 411 yards and 6 TDs on 4.6 yards per carry.
UF even lined up Baugh in some wildcat, direct snap formations in the red zone last Saturday against Texas.
“Jadan obviously did it a lot in high school,” Napier said. “I think it’s one of the more impressive things about him is his ability to manage that …
“It’s a wrinkle. It worked Saturday. You know, obviously each week is a little bit different depending on who is available for the game.”
Baugh has proven to be a punishing runner with a nose for the end zone. He tied a UF record with five rushing TDs in one game on Oct. 19 against Kentucky. His 6 rushing TDs lead UF this season.
Another aspect of UF’s run game improvement has been an offensive line that began to jell in October, led by the experience and leadership of starting center Jake Slaughter and starting left tackle Austin Barber. Florida is creating more holes in the run game, which has resulted in a rushing offense that ranks 10th in the SEC in yards per game (151.1 ypg) and ninth in yards per carry (4.3 ypc).
“We always had it in us,” said Florida offensive lineman Bryce Lovett, who made his first career start at right guard against Texas. “We had to make a decision. Early in the season, well, not — yeah, early in the season we had to make a decision. We were either going to step it up or continue to struggle.
“I think as a unit we made that decision, the right decision to step it up.”
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1
