Florida football star RB Jadan Baugh named ESPN preseason All American

At least one major outlet hasn't slighted Florida football running back Jadan Baugh for being in the same conference with two elite running backs. The 6-foot-1, 228-pound Baugh was named a first-team, All-American by ESPN on August 13 with fellow SEC running back Kewan Lacy of Ole Miss A noticeable snub in regard to Baugh's selection by ESPN is Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy, who led the SEC in rushing with 1,649 yards and 16 TDs. Hardy and Lacy were voted ahead of Baugh on the preseason media All-SEC team, though Hardy is recovering from a gunshot wound to his leg this offseason. Of naming Baugh a preseason, first-team All-American, ESPN writes: "Baugh put together a breakthrough sophomore season with the Florida Gators in 2025 as the SEC's third-leading rusher with 1,170 yards and 10 total touchdowns on 5.3 yards per carry. He was a tough guy to bring down with his 81 forced missed tackles and 782 rushing yards after contact, according to ESPN Research, and Baugh led all conference backs with 33 receptions out of the backfield for 210 yards. He turned down significant pre-portal interest from SEC rivals to play for new Florida coach Jon Sumrall to keep powering the Gators' offense." It's the seventh preseason honor for Baugh which includes being named to the Paul Hornung Award and Maxwell Award preseason watch lists and being named to the media preseason All-SEC team as the second team running back and third-team all-purpose player. Baugh will get head-to-head meetings with the top two returning running backs in the SEC when Florida hosts Ole Miss at The Swamp on Sept. 26, then travels to play at Missouri on Oct. 3. By then the debate regarding who is the best running back in the SEC − and the country − will be decided on the field. Baugh said at SEC Media Day one of his goals is to emerge as the best running back in the conference this season. Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football star RB Jadan Baugh named ESPN preseason All American