Anthony Rubio, son of Florida Senator Marco Rubio, scores in Florida’s Gasparilla Bowl win
The crowd wanted 449-pound Desmond Watson to score a touchdown late in the Gasparilla Bowl on Friday against Tulane. Coach Billy Napier had another plan and the Gators loved it.
Rather than the senior defensive lineman getting the score, Napier called a handoff for 5-9, 173-pound walk-on running back Anthony Rubio.
Rubio ran into the end zone and the entire team erupted. They were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct but no one worried with the game at 32-0 before the PAT.
@aidanwarner_3 handoff to Anthony Rubio for a 9-yard touchdown rush
Montrell Johnson Jr. looks to carry the load for the Florida Gators offense this season, but who else can step up in the running backs room?
After previewing who the Gators have at quarterback, it’s time to dive into Florida’s running back room for the 2024 season.
Make no mistake, it’s tough to ignore the offseason departure of last year’s starting running back Trevor Etienne, but it looks like the Gators will have plenty of solid playmakers at the running back position this upcoming year.
Montrell Johnson Jr. will look to carry a bulk of the load in the backfield this season despite undergoing knee surgery a few weeks ago.
But for a position that requires a lot of depth, who will fill those backup spots for the Gators?
Starter: No. 1 Montrell Johnson Jr. (Sr.)
Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun
Rushing Stats:
Year
GP
ATT
YDS
AVG
TD
Long
AVG/G
2021
14
162
838
5.2
12
99
59.9
2022
13
155
841
5.4
10
62
64.7
2023
12
152
817
5.4
5
52
68.1
Total
39
469
2,496
5.3
27
99
64.2
Receiving Stats:
Year
GP
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
Long
AVG/G
2021
14
6
53
8.8
0
15
3.8
2022
13
12
58
4.8
1
18
4.5
2023
12
30
236
7.9
1
19
19.7
Total
39
48
347
7.2
2
19
14.9
Now with his third season coming up with the Gators, Johnson looks to step into the starting running back role and serve as a leader for the offense.
Johnson is a very versatile back and can bring a lot to the table. He has great vision, can run between the tackles and be a threat with his pass-catching abilities.
However, Johnson lacks speed and open-field elusiveness.
Although Johnson is currently rehabbing from his recent knee surgery, head coach Billy Napier mentioned it as “minor.” With Week 1 against the Miami Hurricanes just a couple weeks away, it’s tough to tell whether Johnson will be ready to play. He is currently listed week to week.
Backups: No. 5 Treyaun Webb (So.) and No. 24 Ja’Kobi Jackson (R-Jr.)
Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun
Rushing Stats (Webb):
Year
GP
ATT
YDS
AVG
TD
Long
AVG/G
2023
11
26
163
6.3
2
43
14.8
Receiving Stats (Webb):
Year
GP
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
Long
AVG/G
2023
11
4
18
4.5
0
12
1.6
Treyaun Webb is a sophomore from Jacksonville who has the most experience out of anyone behind Johnson.
After winning a couple of state championships at Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, the former four-star recruit played his first season with Florida last year and as a freshman, was able to log a couple of touchdowns.
Expect Webb’s workload to increase a lot more.
Ja’Kobi Jackson transferred from Coahoma (Mississippi) Community College and redshirted last season.
In his last season at Coahoma, Jackson led the team in rushing yards (661), touchdowns (7) and average per game (73.44).
Jackson looks to make it a competitive fight for that backup running back spot.
Baugh was ranked as a four-star recruit out of Columbia High School in Decatur, Georgia, and turned some heads after playing well in the Orange & Blue game this past Spring.
Daniels was also a four-star recruit who has been performing well in training camp.
Coming out of West Point, Mississippi, Daniels has plenty of potential and looks to make an impact in the years to come.
Injury/Walk-Ons: No. 27 Cam Carroll (R-Sr.) and No. 25 Anthony Rubio (R-Fr.)
Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun
Cam Carroll transferred from Tulane last year but suffered a season-ending knee injury on the last day of fall camp.
It’ll be interesting to see if Carroll will see some time on the field this season, but it’s also tough to take some time away from the guys ahead of him.
Anthony Rubio, son of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, joined the Gators as a walk-on last season. Rubio went to Belen Jesuit in Miami.
I don’t expect these guys to see the field this season.
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Florida officially added one more piece to the 2023 recruiting class on Wednesday with the signing of offensive tackle Caden Jones.
Florida signed all 20 of its commits at the time during the early signing period, but the class has undergone a few changes since then.
As many Gators fans know, blue-chip quarterback [autotag]Jaden Rashada[/autotag] never made it to campus after signing his letter of intent and eventually asked for his release from the program. He signed with Arizona State on national signing day, but Florida brought in a four-star offensive lineman to keep the class at 20 signees.
Four-star De La Salle (New Orleans, Louisiana) offensive tackle [autotag]Caden Jones[/autotag] was the lone unsigned commit heading into 2023. He committed in January after taking an official visit to the Swamp a month prior. Jones’ letter of intent came in just after 3 p.m. on Wednesday as he officially joined Billy Napier’s program.
“We had Caden at camp, so we had an opportunity to work with him at 6-foot-7-and-a-half,” Napier said regarding Jones at his national signing day press conference. “You know, he’s got a 36 (-inch) arm. I mean, it’s probably the longest arm we’ve measured since we’ve been doing it, and (he’s) really a young man too. A guy that I think is going to continue to grow.”
Jones is a four-star recruit, according to the On3 consensus and 247Sports composite. He’s ranked No. 364 overall and No. 24 among offensive tackles on the composite and No. 385 nationally and No. 23 at his position on the consensus.
Florida also added five walk-ons on national signing day: quarterbacks [autotag]Jordan Gile[/autotag] and [autotag]Parker Leise[/autotag], running back and son of Sen. Marco Rubio, [autotag]Anthony Rubio[/autotag], and edge rusher [autotag]Layne Swafford[/autotag].
Florida added another preferred walk-on today, an in-state edge rusher that recently backed off a commitment to Marshall.
The Gators added another edge rusher to the 2023 recruiting class on Wednesday as Ponte Vedra’s [autotag]Layne Swafford[/autotag] committed to the program as a preferred walk-on.
He’s one of a few PWO additions [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] has made over the past few weeks, including running back and son of Senator Marco Rubio, [autotag]Anthony Rubio[/autotag], and quarterbacks [autotag]Jordan Gile[/autotag] and [autotag]Parker Leise[/autotag].
Swafford, a three-star recruit, was previously committed to Marshall University, but he backed off that pledge after visiting Florida. Playing in the SEC was too good to pass up, and Swafford quickly completed the flip after just two days. He projects as a stand-up edge for the Gators, according to 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins.
During his senior year, Swafford recorded 53 total tackles (26 solo) and four sacks as the Sharks finished the season 5-5, according to MaxPreps. His best game of the year came against Florida State University High School on Sept. 2 when he made five solo tackles and nine overall, including a sack. His only multi-sack game of the year game against Bishop Kenny in October.
He checks in at 6-foot-3-inches tall and 245 pounds, so he’s got the right frame to compete in the SEC. Developing Swafford over the first few years of his collegiate career will be key to his success.
Swafford is ranked No. 143 among edge rushers in the class on the 247Sports composite and is No. 141 nationally on the On3 consensus.
