There has been next to nothing to celebrate this season for Florida Gator fans. Billy Napier has been fired, and his replacement isn't going to be Lane Kiffin next season.
But Jadan Baugh just hit a milestone that also encapsulates the talent that Napier wasn't this season.
Jadan Baugh hits 1,000 yards and joins Emmitt Smith
Coming into the game against FSU, Baugh needed 96 yards to reach 1,000 yards on the season. It was clear from the opening snap that Florida's game plan was to feed Baugh, and FSU offered zero resistance.
Baugh not only got his 96 yards, but he also did it in the first half on Florida's third possession.
It makes him the first Florida running back to hit 1,000 yards in a season since Kelvin Taylor did it in 2015.
Perhaps more impressively, Baugh becomes the first Florida running back since Emmitt Smith to be an underclassman and reach 1,000 yards in a season in under 200 carries.
It's a reminder of a constant frustration we had with Florida's offense this season. The Gators have a five-star QB, a future NFL running back, two five-star wide receivers, and an offensive line that brought back four starters.
And yet coming into this game against FSU, the Gators had only eclipsed 30 points once this season (and that was against Long Island in the opener).
Baugh was a late addition to the class of 2024. Florida had been locked in with KD Daniels as their main running back for that class, but managed to flip Baugh from Arkansas near signing day and bring him to Gainesville.
Whenever Florida hires a new coach, obviously, trying to retain DJ Lagway is going to be a priority. But one could probably argue that retaining a guy like Baugh is just as important.