Pass protection from Jadan Baugh a departure from a former Florida Football RB

Last year, when Trevor Etienne announced he was transferring away from Florida Football, a narrative took hold that he was terrible in pass protection. It felt like a narrative that materialized out of sour grapes, as it wasn't a narrative that fans were clamoring about when he was still a Gator.

Upon further review there is some data to support those claims. Just as important, Florida's current backup running back is a noticeable and willing blocker in pass protection.

Florida Football: Block Button

There were 266 running backs last season who were credited with at least 50 blocking snaps. Etienne gave up the 27th most pressures and was one of only 34 running backs who gave up more than one sack.

Pro Football Focus graded Etienne as the 24th worst pass-blocking running back in the country in 2023, so there is merit to back up claims he was a liability when asked to protect.

He's gone now and Florida has been rotating a number of guys behind Montrell Johnson. But since Treyaun Webb was injured for the UCF game, it was Jadan Baugh who saw an uptick in snaps.

Baugh has caught the eye of Gator fans for his hard-running style, but it was his pass-blocking that stood out just as much on Saturday night.

It caught Billy Napier's attention too.

"Always an issue with a young back. I think part of their growth and earning playing time is their ability to protect those quarterbacks. Ton of responsibility and protection in our system.

I thought UCF in particular, we knew going in that was a huge challenge, especially the internal pressures. He did a good job. He had a couple key pickups on third down where we converted.

So it's actually one of the plays I'm going to show in the team meeting today, is the third down where he does a nice job on the double A gap cross pressure and then we hit Tank to the field. He made a guy miss. Baugh is a good young player."

Officially, Baugh was credited with two pass blocks, neither of which resulted in a pressure.

Compare that to UCF running back RJ Harvey who gave up three pressures, two hurries, and a sack on Saturday. The sack, in particular, stood out as Harvey whiffed on Florida's R.J. Moten.

If/when Webb is healthy, it is hard to tell if Baugh will maintain double-digit snaps, but blitz pickups like what he showcased on Saturday will go a long way.