Jadan Baugh – Syndication Server

Resilient Gators: How Florida’s rollercoaster season sets stage for bright future

The Gators’ 2024 season showcased resilience, DJ Lagway’s rise and a November to remember.

If you’re a Florida Gators football fan, the 2024 regular season probably felt like a rollercoaster ride: moments of elation, flashes of promise and a few stomach-churning drops along the way.

At 7-5, it’s not the season of dreams, but it’s one that hints at a brighter future — if the pieces can come together.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: losing 41-17 to the Miami Hurricanes to start the year was brutal. Rivalry games sting when you’re on the wrong end, and this one was no different. But in typical Gators fashion, they responded. A 45-7 rout of Samford was expected, but it showed one thing this team has in spades — resilience.

And resilience defined this team all season. They’d take one step forward, one step back. A loss to the Texas A&M Aggies? They bounced back with a road win over Mississippi State. A frustrating overtime loss at Tennessee? They rebounded with a dominant 48-20 win over the Kentucky Wildcats.

Every setback seemed to spark a response, a testament to Billy Napier’s ability to keep this group engaged and motivated.

Mertz’s impact, untimely injury

Graham Mertz began the season as the Gators’ offensive leader. However, his tenure was cut short due to a torn ACL he suffered on October 12 in Florida’s loss to Tennessee.

This non-contact injury not only ended his season but also his collegiate career. In the wake of his injury, Mertz expressed his commitment to the team, stating, “During my recovery, I will remain a part of the program to do whatever I can in meeting rooms and from the sideline to help my teammates win.”

Following Mertz’s departure, true freshman DJ Lagway stepped into the starting quarterback role, and man, did he put the country on notice.

Lagway era has begun

Let’s talk about Lagway, the freshman quarterback who became the face of this team. He threw for 1,610 yards and 11 touchdowns—numbers that might not pop off the page but don’t forget this kid is just getting started.

Sure, he’s had his growing pains. But Lagway showed the tools—arm talent, mobility and composure—that have Gator Nation buzzing about his potential.

Lagway wasn’t alone in carrying the offense. Another true freshman who turned some heads was running back Jadan Baugh. Baugh rushed for 603 yards and seven touchdowns. His physical running style gave Florida a steady presence in the backfield.

And then there’s Elijhah Badger, the senior receiver who turned 37 catches into 789 yards and four scores.

November in the Swamp

Coming into their matchup against the No. 22 LSU Tigers on November 9, the Gators were desperate for a signature victory. At 4-4, they had struggled to maintain consistency all season. But in front of a raucous home crowd, the team delivered its most complete performance of the year to date, earning a 27-16 win.

The momentum carried into the following week as the Gators hosted the No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels. Despite being underdogs, Florida controlled the game from start to finish, winning by a score of 24-17. The defense was once again the story, bottling up the Rebels’ run game and making key interceptions against Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart when the game mattered most.

These back-to-back wins were more than just victories—they were statements. Florida proved it could hang with and beat ranked SEC opponents, a crucial step for a program trying to regain its footing among the conference elite.

Rivalry Redemption

And then there was the finale. If there’s one game that feels good for Gator fans, it’s the 31-11 dismantling of the Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee. Not only was it a statement win over a bitter rival, but it also sent the message that this team isn’t backing down. That’s the kind of victory that sticks with fans—and recruits.

So where do we go from here?

Looking ahead, the Gators have the foundation to take a leap in 2025. Lagway is the real deal, Baugh is a grinder, and Badger and Chimere Dike’s success should inspire the next wave of receivers. The challenge for Napier and his staff will be addressing the weaknesses that held his team back.

Is Florida back? Not yet. But they’re close. And after a season of ups and downs, that’s more than enough to keep the Swamp rocking.

As the Gators prepare for their bowl game, fans can look back on those last three games in November as a glimpse of what’s possible. If Florida can replicate that intensity and execution consistently, The Swamp might once again be college football’s most feared destination.

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Five key factors that drove Florida football’s rivalry win over FSU

Defense, turnovers and big plays: 5 key factors in the Gators’ 31-11 rivalry win over FSU.

Rivalry games often come down to moments, and the Florida Gators made most of theirs in their 31-11 win over the Florida State Seminoles.

The victory wasn’t just a testament to Florida’s talent but also their ability to capitalize on critical moments. While the Gators shined defensively and on the ground, their performance wasn’t flawless, with notable struggles in the passing game and moments of inconsistency.

Rivalry games are rarely about perfection, though—they’re about finding a way to win.

Ultimately, the game came down to execution in key moments, and the Gators rose to the challenge. Here are the five key factors that propelled this Florida football team to victory in this year’s Sunshine Showdown.

Defensive Dominance

Florida’s defense was the undeniable star of the night, dismantling FSU’s offense at every turn. The Gators racked up eight sacks, 14 tackles for loss and forced a total of eight fumbles.

Linebacker Jaden Robinson and defensive lineman Tyreak Sapp were relentless, combining for three sacks and making critical stops in the backfield. The defense didn’t just limit FSU—it actively created scoring opportunities, leading to 14 points off turnovers. This level of defensive aggression set the tone and left the Seminoles scrambling all game.

Explosive ground game

The Gators rushing attack was the backbone of their offensive success, racking up 235 yards on the ground with an impressive 6.2 yards per carry.

Montrell Johnson Jr. led the charge with 99 yards on 10 carries, including a spectacular 65-yard touchdown run. Ja’Kobi Jackson also contributed with 51 yards and a touchdown, providing balance and keeping FSU’s defense on its heels. Jadan Baugh put his mark on the game late, running for 81 yards.

This dominance on the ground allowed Florida to control the tempo, even when the passing game faltered.

Turnover Battle

The turnover margin was a game-changing factor. While Florida only committed on turnover—a DJ Lagway interception—the Gators forced FSU into eight fumbles, recovering five of them.

This defensive opportunism completely shifted the momentum in Florida’s favor. Whether it was Bryce Thornton punching the ball out or Sapp applying pressure in the backfield, the Gators consistently found ways to capitalize on FSU’s mistakes.

Red Zone Efficiency

In a game defined by defensive plays, Florida’s ability to finish drives in the red zone was critical. The Gators were a perfect 4-for-4 in red zone opportunities, showing poise and precision when it mattered most.

Lagway delivered touchdown passes to Marcus Burke and Tony Livingston, while the running game punched in two more scores.

In a game where touchdowns are critical, the Gators did their job when it mattered most inside the 20-yard line.

Limiting FSU’s Offense

The Gators’ defense didn’t just force turnovers—it suffocated the Seminoles’ attack entirely. FSU managed just 239 total yards, including only 140 passing yards and 99 rushing yards.

The Seminoles’ longest play of the night was just 20 yards, a testament to Florida’s disciplined coverage and tackling. By bottling up the run and preventing big passing plays, the Gators neutralized FSU’s ability to sustain drives, holding them to a dismal 3.3 yards per play.

What’s next for Florida?

That is the end of the regular-season schedule for the Orange and Blue. Now the Gator Nation waits with bated breath to hear which bowl game their beloved football team will play in this December. Stay tuned to this website for more information.

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Three instant takeaways from Florida’s blowout win over FSU

It wasn’t the most efficient night for Florida’s offense, but a stout defensive performance led the Gators to an easy victory of Florida State.

Florida capped off its regular season with a third-straight win Saturday night, a 31-11 victory over the Florida State Seminoles that was never truly in doubt.

If there was a game that Florida could afford to be sloppy in this season, it was this one. [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag] started off the game slow and his receivers didn’t help him out too much, either. Fortunately, the running backs came up big, combining for 223 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries. It’s only the second time this year that Florida has gone over 200 yards rushing, with Montrell Johnson Jr. battling injuries for much of the year.

The defense also continued its dominant run through November by bulldozing through Florida State’s offensive line and getting to the quarterback eight times. The Seminoles fumbled seven times and never had a shot with that kind of turnover margin.

PLANT THE FLAG!

Fumblerooski

Okay, the fumblerooski is a trick play and FSU certainly did not have many tricks in their bag against Florida, but it’s fun to say and the Gators forced eight fumbles on the night, recovering five.

Florida’s defensive front started off the year rough, but that unit has been the key over the past month. Creating pressure against a true freshman quarterback who likes to take off is a tried and true recipe for manifesting havoc, and that’s exactly what happened Saturday night.

Eight sacks, 14 tackles for loss and just one touchdown allowed. What a night for the defense.

Shout out to long snapper [autotag]Rocco Underwood[/autotag] for getting downfield and recovering a muffed punt on special teams, too.

Lagway a bit off, RBs clean up

This was not DJ Lagway’s best game, but the Gators didn’t need it to be to get the win. Getting [autotag]Montrell Johnson Jr[/autotag]. back has been huge, and both [autotag]Jadan Baugh[/autotag] and [autotag]Ja’Kobi Jackson[/autotag] are still doing just fine.

It’s only right for the guy who came over with Billy Napier and returned for his senior year despite being a draft prospect to get the lion’s share of important carries, and Johnson made the most of his 10 against Florida State with 99 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown to put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter.

In fact, Johnson ran so well that Napier could afford to spread the love and get Baugh and Jackson 10 or more carries. Baugh ran it enough late to creep up to 81 yards and led the room with 11 carries. All three rushers finished the night with more than five yards per carry — Johnson at 9.9, Baugh at 7.4 and Jackson at 5.1.

The running backs room in Gainesville is loaded with talent, and everyone but Johnson will be back next season.

Not the best night for Florida receivers

Florida’s passing attack suffered throughout the game, but it’s not all on the quarterback. Yes, Lagway was a bit off, but the bulk of the incompletions tonight can be put on the receivers. Several players dropped balls that hit their hands, and that can’t happen in a rivalry game.

Lagway’s lone interception is a result of a miscommunication by the receivers, too. Veteran guys like [autotag]Elijhah Badger[/autotag], [autotag]Chimere Dike[/autotag] and even Marcus Burke are supposed to make things easier for a true freshman, but Lagway didn’t get much help from them.

Badger and Dike get a pass because they’ve been solid for most of the season, though. It was just a rough night for that group.

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Florida football a USA TODAY Sports ‘winner’ after beating Ole Miss

USA TODAY Sports writer Paul Myerberg’s winners and losers column has the Florida Gators earning a spot on the good side of the discussion.

Florida football earned a season-defining win in the Swamp on Saturday with a 24-17 victory over the ninth-ranked Ole Miss Rebels, giving the Gators their magical sixth victory that opens the doors to a bowl game berth.

Lane Kiffin and Co. came in with a double-digit projected margin of victory only to find themselves in a dead heat with the home team after three-quarters of play. [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s quad did something uncharacteristic of the program during his two-plus-year stint as head coach — made critical plays down the stretch in the absence of boneheaded errors.

And thus, the Orange and Blue were victorious in Week 13.

After the dust settled from college football’s penultimate regular-season weekend, USA TODAY Sports writer Paul Myerberg published his winners and losers column, with the Gators earning a spot on the good side.

“Upsetting Ole Miss validates Florida’s decision to bring back Billy Napier for another year and breathes some real life into a program that was on life support as recently as earlier this month,” Myerberg begins. “Facing off against maybe the toughest schedule in the country, the Gators will be back in bowl play with the chance to really develop some momentum heading into 2025.

“In freshman quarterback [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag], freshman running back [autotag]Jadan Baugh[/autotag], sophomore defensive back [autotag]Bryce Thornton[/autotag] and others, Florida has a very nice core around which to build an SEC contender,” he concludes.

Next up for Florida

The Gators wrap up the 2024 regular season schedule in Tallahassee for their annual rivalry game against the Florida State Seminoles. The game will take place inside Doak Campbell Stadium and will kick off at either 7 or 7:30 p.m. ET; broadcast details have yet to be determined.

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Five key factors in Florida football’s dominant victory over LSU

Offense, defense and special teams helped the Gators come up with a much-needed victory at home against the LSU Tigers.

Florida football (5-5, 3-4 SEC) defeated the No. 21 LSU Tigers (6 – 4, 3-3 SEC) by a score of 27-16.

Quarterback DJ Lagway started for the Gators after missing last week’s game due to a left hamstring injury and threw for 226 yards and a touchdown in his return. Freshman running back Jadan Baugh exploded for a 55-yard touchdown run with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to ultimately seal the game.

With help from the defense to seal the game, despite their shakiness on third down stops, the Gators came up with a huge win to keep their bowl-eligibility hopes alive. Florida just needs a win against either Ole Miss next week or the Florida State Seminoles to make a bowl game this season.

Here are five key factors from today’s game.

Defense starts with a bang

Florida’s defense started out the game strong. On LSU’s opening drive, the Tigers moved the ball toward midfield and were faced with a 4th-and-1 situation.

LSU decided to go for it and ran a play toward the outside that was immediately shut down by Dijon Johnson which made the Swamp deafening.

Unfortunately for the Gators’ offense, they were forced to punt because they committed two consecutive penalties to start out their drive. So the great field position went to waste.

Gators bite first

Florida started their second offensive drive on their own 20-yard line and Lagway got away with an almost sure interception on his first attempt. The ball hit the LSU defender right in the hands but he couldn’t make the catch.

A couple of plays later, Lagway completed a 34-yard pass to receiver Chimere Dike that put the Gators at midfield. Then, running back Ja’Kobi Jackson had a big run for 20 yards that placed Florida right outside the red zone.

To cap off the drive, Lagway threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to receiver Elijhah Badger who was in one-on-one coverage that gave the Gators an early 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Defensive woes on third downs

Florida had a tough time defending the Tigers on their third down attempts.

Over the course of the game, LSU was 13-for-24 on third downs and converted four of them on their fourth possession alone which resulted in a 14-play, 84-yard drive that ended in a game-tying touchdown in the second quarter.

The third-down defensive struggles allowed the Tigers to construct lengthy drives which also allowed them to dominate the time of possession. LSU had the ball for 41:43 compared to Florida’s time of possession of 18:17.

LSU was 8-for-12 on third downs in the first half and it wasn’t like the majority of them were short distances either. A lot of these conversions were on 3rd-and-long situations. But luckily toward the end of the game, Florida’s defense was able to dial in when it mattered most and slowed down those third-down conversions.

Plenty of sacks to go around

The Gators’ defense was all over Garrett Nussmeier throughout the game, especially in the second half.

Florida had a total of seven sacks and it wasn’t just from a couple of players. The sacks were spread out among multiple Gators defenders.

Linebacker Shemar James had two while defensive tackle Caleb Banks, EDGE T.J. Searcy, EDGE George Gumbs Jr. and EDGE Kamran James each came up with a sack.

It was certainly refreshing to see the Gators pass rush being as effective as they were today and it’ll be interesting to see if they can carry it over next week against a high-powered Ole Miss offense.

Special Teams delivered for the Gators

Florida’s offense struggled to find ways to get in the end zone today, but thanks to their fantastic play from junior kicker Trey Smack who kicked 2-for-2 that included a career-long field goal of 55 yards.

And let’s not forget about senior punter Jeremy Crawshaw who had all four of his punts inside the 20-yard line. In a game where field position was critical, the Gators special teams unit played a big part in their victory today.

Up next for the Gators

The Gators play their final home game of the season against the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday, Nov. 23. Kickoff is set for noon ET and will be broadcast on ABC.

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Gators RB earns Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week nod

Jadan Baugh’s five touchdowns against Kentucky last week earned him some national recognition as one of college football’s top freshman performers.

Florida true freshman running back [autotag]Jadan Baugh[/autotag] was named the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week following a five-touchdown performance against Kentucky on Saturday.

Baugh tied a school record with his five scores and added 106 rushing yards in his first SEC start.

“Youth is being served in Gainesville, where the Gators are feeling a sense of optimism entering their bye week,” the Maxwell Football Club press release reads. “Florida hammered visiting Kentucky Saturday, 48-20, using an all-true freshman backfield of Baugh and QB [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag]. Starting for the first time this season in place of injured Montrell Johnson, the 6-1, 227-pound Baugh ran 22 times for 106 yards and five touchdowns. The five scores tied the single-game school record at Florida.”

The Maxwell Football Club supports former Alabama star Shaun Alexander in naming the top college freshman each year. Baugh is the first running back to win the weekly award.

2024 Weekly Freshmen of the Week

10/22/24 – Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida
10/15/24 – Ryan Browne, QB, Purdue
10/8/24 – Koi Perich, DB, Minnesota
10/1/24 – Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama
9/24/24 – Josiah Trotter, LB, West Virginia
9/17/24 – Eli Holsten, QB, Pittsburgh
9/10/24 – Nick Marsh, WR, Michigan State
9/4/24 – Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina

“The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award is an honor given each year to the most outstanding freshman player in college football. Named after Shaun Alexander since 2018, this award recognizes the exceptional performance and impact made by these players on their respective teams throughout the season.

“The Alexander Award is dedicated to championing future legends and evaluates players based on Talent, Character, Ambassador and Legend”

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Breaking down PFF grades for Florida’s run game against Kentucky

Jadan Baugh ran for five touchdowns in Florida’s win over Kentucky, but what does Pro Football Focus have to say about the Gators run game?

Florida’s big win over Kentucky last weekend was dominant in every way, but it’s the run game that is responsible for all five touchdowns scored by the offense.

True freshmen [autotag]Jadan Baugh[/autotag] and [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag] can both run well, which is one of the main reasons Kentucky’s typically stout defense struggled so much. Lagway could run the option at will after establishing the long ball, and the Wildcats didn’t have enough guys in the box to stop it.

The future of the program seems to be in the hands of these two young men, but let’s not forget about the run blockers. Here’s what Pro Football Focus had to say about Florida’s run game on Saturday.

A refresher course on PFF grades can be found at the bottom of this article.

Ball Carriers

Player	Total Snaps	Carries	Offense	Run	Fumble	Run Blocking	YDS	TD	Missed Tackles Forced
Jadan Baugh	37	22	78.6	77.3	77.4	60.0	106	5	2
Ja’Kobi Jackson	17	9	60.9	62.2	72.5	60.0	44	0	1
Cameron Carroll	4	3	52.3	53.9	67.3	—	1	0	0
DJ Lagway (QB)	53	7	83.5	68.9	69.1	60.0	57	0	1

True freshman [autotag]Jadan Baugh[/autotag] stole the show in DJ Lagway’s first SEC start, tying a school record with five touchdowns on the evening. Big throws from Lagway set up several of those scores, but crossing the goalline five times in one night is still an impressive feat.

Baugh earned the top run and fumble grades on the night and finished fifth overall on offense. If you’re wondering why Baugh didn’t finish with a higher grade, a higher elusiveness rating (20.7) might be the culprit. He forced a pair of missed tackles and broke three rushes for 10 or more yards, though.

Baugh performed well running to all sides of the field, but he put up the bulk of his yards hitting the gap between the center and right guard. On four carries to the middle-right, Baugh went for 53 yards, including a chunker for 27 and 18 yards after contact.

The right side (off the right tackle and right end) is a bit of a weak spot. Baugh only gained 13 yards on nine carries to that side of the field. However, three of his touchdowns came between those two gaps.

[autotag]Ja’Kobi Jackson[/autotag] acted as Florida’s No. 2 and his downhill running paid off to the tune of 44 yards on nine carries. However, both his overall and run grades came up short of the 65.0 threshold we look for.

Jackson forced two missed tackles and had a long of 11 yards, but it’s his elusiveness rating (91.4) that stands out the most. That’s well above Baugh’s number despite being on the field for a limited time.

[autotag]Cam Carroll[/autotag] rounds out the running back room for Florida. Carroll suffered a season-ending injury in fall camp last year and never saw the field after transferring from Tulane. Billy Napier let him go out there for the final drive of the game and get three carries.

It doesn’t matter what his numbers were. Seeing Carroll back on the field is the kind of feel-good story you love to see in a blowout win.

Of course, [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag] ran the ball a few times too, and Florida fans should expect to see him scramble far more often than Graham Mertz did as the starter. Lagway went for 57 yards on seven carries (8.1 yards per carry), and he finished the game with the second-best run grade of the bunch.

One forced missed tackle and a 25-yard gain are the highlights, but remember that Lagway has to play it safe with little depth behind him.

Run Blocking

Twenty-four of the 25 offensive players for Florida earned a run-blocking grade, so we’ll stick to the offensive linemen and tight ends on the chart below. If a wide receiver had an exceptional day blocking, it will be noted in the final portion of this section.

Player	Total Snaps	Run Snaps	Run Blocking Snaps	Offense	Run Blocking	Zone	Gap
Austin Barber	53	33	33	65.1	58.4	59.2	58.1
Jake Slaughter	53	33	33	75.8	70.5	69.8	64.9
Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson	53	33	33	61.3	56.3	56.4	58.0
Hayden Hansen (TE)	44	29	29	65.5	70.4	68.1	67.7
Knijeah Harris	39	23	23	50.7	49.6	52.4	52.5
Arlis Boardingham (TE)	32	22	22	54.4	57.9	53.1	65.5
Damieon George Jr.	35	20	20	59.8	57.3	67.0	48.8
Bryce Lovett	25	19	19	63.0	60.7	57.2	65.1
Kamryn Waites	19	14	14	64.4	62.9	64.4	59.1
Caden Jones	5	4	4	52.2	53.1	60.0	53.3
Christian Williams	5	4	4	48.5	59.0	59.9	59.5
Hayden Clem	5	4	4	65.1	65.9	63.7	60.1
Scott Isacks III (TE)	5	4	4	57.2	57.8	59.0	58.8

Left Tackle

[autotag]Austin Barber[/autotag] held down the left tackle position for most of the game, but he didn’t put up great numbers as a run blocker. A strong pass-blocking performance helped balance out his overall grade, which is typical of Barber through eight weeks. The highest run-blocking grade he’s posted this season is just above 70.0 and most are in the low-60s.

There’s no great cause for concern here, but it should be noted that Barber has come up short of the 60.0 threshold two weeks in a row. He’s also been a bit hobbled, so the bye week should do him good.

Left Guard

[autotag]Knijeah Harris[/autotag] and [autotag]Kamryn Waites[/autotag] both fell short of the 65.0 threshold we look for, but Harris’ sub-50 mark is concerning. He’s finished with a run-blocking grade below 60 several times this year, but this is his first time dipping below 50.

Waites has been far more consistent, and it might be time to make him the starter there.

Center

[autotag]Jake Slaughter[/autotag] is better at pass blocking than run blocking, but he still put a respectable grade this week. He’s one of four Gators to finish with a run-blocking grade above 70.0 this week, and it’s the first time he’s crossed that threshold since the Samford game.

Hayden Clem got the final drive of the game at center and also had some solid numbers. Slaughter should be headed to the NFL this offseason. Perhaps Clem is a viable option to replace him. We still need to see him play more, though.

Right Guard

[autotag]Damieon George Jr[/autotag]. and [autotag]Bryce Lovett[/autotag] share snaps at right guard, and it’s for a good reason. George is better on zone runs, and Lovett is better on gap runs. It’s impossible to switch them out at will, but Baugh did well running up the middle-right, so there’s no reason to fix something that isn’t broken. Neither reached our 65.0 threshold, though.

Christian Williams got the final drive of the game and put up average numbers. Remember, 60.0 is sort of a baseline for these graders, and Williams was within 1.0 of that figure on just four plays.

Right Tackle

[autotag]Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson[/autotag] has been solid since taking over at right tackle, but a sub-60 run-blocking grade isn’t much to write home about. Florida struggled to get anything going to that side of the line, so it makes sense to see his numbers take a dip.

Caden Jones got the final drive of the game at right tackle. He performed at a replacement level, but it was only for four plays.

Tight Ends

[autotag]Hayden Hansen[/autotag] didn’t do much in the passing game, but he was a strong run blocker for Florida on Saturday. He’s one of those four players to finish with a run-blocking grade above 70, which helped on some of those goallines rushes for touchdowns to the right side.

[autotag]Arlis Boardingham[/autotag] didn’t have as good of a day, but it should be noted that he cleared the 65.0 threshold on gap runs. He’s more of a pass-catching tight end, so it’s good to see him finish strong in at least one blocking grade.

Scott Isacks III played the final drive of the game, similar to the backup linemen, but it was another sub-60 performance in limited action.

Wide Receivers

The two highest run-blocking grades on the team came from receivers.

Aidan Mizell, a speedster, led the way with a 79.5 over eight plays as a blocker, and Chimere Dike trails him closely with a 77.2 over 19 snaps. Neither had standout performances as receivers, so it’s a positive to see them impacting the game in other ways.

Understanding PFF grades

The grading scale ranges from minus-2 to plus-2 with increments of 0.5, and players are given a grade on every play they are on the field for. A zero grade means a player did his job, while the two ends of the scale represent extreme success or failure — think red zone interception at the end of a game or a game-winning touchdown pass when applying it to quarterbacks.

There’s a level of subjectivity to it, but each grade is reviewed at least once. Once all plus-minus grades are in, the numbers are converted to a 0-100 scale to easily compare players. There are some loosely defined tiers within the system — 90-100 is elite, 85-89 is Pro Bowl level for NFL players, 70 to 84 is a starter and 60-69 is a backup. Anything 59 and below is considered a replaceable talent.

Since we’re looking at college athletes with a system designed for the pros, we will consider anything above 65.0 as a solid performance.

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Billy Napier praises Jabbar Juluke’s impact on Florida’s football RBs

Gators head coach Billy Napier gave praise to Jabbar Juluke and the Florida football running backs during the SEC teleconference.

During Wednesday’s SEC teleconference, Florida football head coach Billy Napier talked about using this week’s bye as a time for improvement and getting players healthy.

However, the Gators head coach also highlighted the team’s running backs, particularly praising running backs coach Jabbar Juluke for the outstanding job he has done with the group.

“Well, Jabbar (Juluke), I think number one, Jabbar, was a high school coach, you know, and I think he has a unique, sincere care for players,” Napier said. “He does a great job mentoring the players, and runs a tight ship, you know. He does a nice job really modeling what you would want from the players, and then he holds them very accountable.”

Napier continued, “I never have to worry about the running backs, I mean, that group is always toeing the line, and they do it off the field, and they have great practice habits.”

As well as serving as the team’s running backs coach, Juluke is also the associate head coach and is currently in his third season with the Gators.

Napier and Juluke coached together at Louisiana from 2018-2021 before coming to Gainesville with Napier.

“He (Juluke) does a good job teaching, and he has got a framework for success,” Napier said. “I mean, I think obviously at Louisiana, we had three NFL backs. We were very productive there with the other players that we had, Chris Smith, Emani Bailey, not to mention the three NFL players, Trey Ragas, Elijah Mitchell, Raymond Calais.”

“And then we come here, we bring Montrell (Johnson) with us, obviously. And then Trevor Etienne, as a rookie, played well for us.”

Napier went on to praise Florida’s running backs room this season.

“And then these guys are the next, next generation, you know,” Napier said. “I think Jadan (Baugh) obviously stepped up for our team in a major way. And there’s a culture in that room. And I think you take guys like Montrell Johnson, they’re good examples to guys like Jadan Baugh who obviously has some ability.

“We got good solid play from Ja’Kobi (Jackson) as well. And we’re excited about potentially KD Daniels. KD, he’s starting to become, he’s getting healthier, I would say.”

Napier stressed the importance of maintaining player health and noted that several guys are nearing a return.

“So it’s a good room, you know, we got to keep them healthy,” Napier mentioned. “And obviously, Treyaun Webb is on that list as well, and he’s obviously closer to being available for the game. So (I) feel good about getting healthy over the next couple weeks with that group.”

Coming up for Florida

The Gators are off next week due to their bye week. The next matchup for Florida will be against the Georgia Bulldogs on Nov. 2 in Jacksonville. That game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET and can be seen on ABC.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Florida football running back named SEC Freshman of the Week

Gators freshman running back Jadan Baugh wins the award following his five touchdown performance vs. Kentucky.

Florida football true freshman running back Jadan Baugh was named the SEC Freshman of the Week following his incredible performance in the Gators’ win over the Kentucky Wildcats in Week 8.

Because of Montrell Johnson Jr.‘s unavailability for the game due to an injury, Baugh served as Florida’s lead back and ran all over Kentucky’s defense.

The freshman was a workhorse on Saturday night, running for 106 yards on 22 carries and scoring a total of five touchdowns.

Baugh matched a program record set by Tim Tebow in 2007 and Trey Burton in 2010, achieving the most rushing touchdowns in a single game by a true freshman.

“Gives me confidence,” Baugh said about his performance against Kentucky. “But also gives my team, too, as in we know we could have did this as an offense and a defense. Like the defense played great today. That gave us the opportunity on offense to do what we did today.”Head coach Billy Napier gave praise to not just the offensive line, but the surrounding positions that helped make Florida’s run game successful.

“We ran it good last week, you know,” Napier said after the game. “I think here for a couple weeks in a row—look, it comes down to having a good plan, having a hat for a hat, and then got a ton of people this contribute to the run game. Not just the offensive line. The tight ends, receivers, obviously the quarterback in the middle of that as well.”

Coming up for Florida

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The Athletic calls win over Kentucky in Week 8 ‘good for Napier’

If anyone needed the definitive win in Week 8, it was Florida’s Billy Napier.

The Gator Nation was treated to one of the finest performances by the Florida football team in some time — on homecoming, no less — sending the Kentucky Wildcats out of Gainesville with their tails between their legs and a 48-20 defeat.

If anyone needed the definitive win, it was [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag], who had resided on the head coach hot seat before the season even began and has continued to feel the flames rising around him. However, despite his recent success and the improved product witnessed on the field, his imperiled future still remains uncertain.

The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel had some final thoughts on Florida’s win over Kentucky after the end of Week 8 with a focus on the Gators skipper.

“Embattled Florida coach Billy Napier refuses to go quietly into the night. In the Gators’ first game since losing veteran quarterback Graham Mertz for the season with an ACL injury, they rode a pair of true freshmen to a 48-20 rout of Kentucky (3-4, 1-4 SEC),” Mandel begins.

“Five-star quarterback [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag] completed seven passes, but five of them went for 40-plus yards, and running back [autotag]Jadan Baugh[/autotag], making his first career start, ran for 106 yards and a program record-tying five touchdowns,” he continues.

“After an off week, Florida (4-3, 2-2 SEC) begins its long-awaited gauntlet of Georgia, Texas and LSU back-to-back-to-back. So it’s good for Napier he won this one.”

Coming up for Florida

The Gators are off next week due to their bye week. The next matchup for Florida will be against Georgia on Nov. 2 in Jacksonville. That game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET and can be seen on ABC.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.