Jadan Baugh is the swing factor for Florida’s ceiling in 2026

Tuesday has been a busy day for the Gators in the transfer portal, as Florida has landed an array of players to continue a roster rebuild that has seen over 30 players leave for the portal. Unlike the previous regime, Jon Sumrall and company have shown way more emphasis on the transfer portal and appear to understand its value.

To this point, the haul Florida has brought in has fans cautiously optimistic. The lack of a splash commit, however, also makes keeping Jadan Baugh a massive win for Florida’s offense heading into 2026.

Jadan Baugh set to return for 2026

Heading into Tuesday, the optics for Florida’s transfer portal momentum weren’t the best. The Gators had landed a couple of depth pieces and were still in the running to land a number of players, but it was the fact that Florida wasn’t in the running to land any of the top-ranked players that also had fans frustrated.

Jontez Williams was the top-rated cornerback in the portal and was from 45 minutes down the road in Starke, and yet the Gators couldn’t even get him on campus before he committed to Southern Cal. Cam Coleman’s wide receiver coach from Auburn is now at Florida, and yet the Gators were never in the running. Top-ten tight end Dorian Thomas was going to visit Florida, but that visit also got cancelled.

Tuesday helped change the narrative as Florida landed a slew of players. 

Running back Evan Pryor is a speedster who could be a perfect complement to Baugh should Baugh stay. QB Aaron Philo has been prepping the last two seasons under Buster Faulkner, and while his arm strength is a question mark, he is a good fit for the offense Faulkner ran at Georgia Tech. Guard TJ Shanahan was a perfectly capable pass blocker while at Penn State under Phil Trautwein.

But it is why keeping Baugh is such an important puzzle piece heading into 2026.

With Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson also coming back, the wide receiver room can be one of the better rooms in the SEC if Florida can get a third guy to step up as a complementary piece, whether that’s TJ Abrams, freshman Davian Groce, or Georgia Tech transfer Bailey Stockton.

The quarterback room should have a competition between Tramell Jones and Philo, both of whom have upside potential.

Tight ends follow a similar story with Tony Livingston and Amir Jackson to go along with James Madison transfer Lacota Dippre.

The offensive line will be a wildcard unit that has to break in a ton of new pieces. Florida is bringing back a ton of guys who have been waiting in the wings to mix in with Shanahan and a couple of other transfers Florida has its eye on.

But all of these guys, with the exception of Brown III and Wilson, fit the profile of “Solid, but not elite.” Running back transfer Pryor fits that profile, too.

With Baugh coming back, and Florida has the upside of three elite playmakers with solid talent to complement them for Faulkner to work with. Florida now has a great complementary running back to go with Baugh along with two wide receivers to threaten over the top.

If Florida can shore up the tackle spot, Florida's offense might just have a whole new look heading into 2026.