Jadan Baugh Talks Heisman Aspirations on SportsCenter

Florida running back Jadan Baugh appeared on SportsCenter on Tuesday night, providing insight on Saturday’s showdown with Ole Miss, his Heisman campaign and his personal philosophy.

Florida fans have rallied behind the saying “Run the Baugh,” which the Gators have done successfully so far. Baugh rushed for an SEC-leading 458 yards and nation’s best eight touchdowns through three games.

He is also recognized for his Heisman celebration in the endzone, and Baugh was quick to credit his team.

“With those guys on the O-line and the receivers, the Quarterbacks, they’re behind me, I feel like I can do anything I put my mind to,” Baugh said.

The junior from Atlanta also said his motivation comes from his family. However, it also keeps him balanced in his pursuit of the end goal.

“My dad’s been sending me the Heisman Trophy each Monday, and he says go get me that,” he said. “My dad and my momma always tell me to stay humble.” 

As an effort to keep the star running back in Gainesville, first-year coach Jon Sumrall visited Baugh’s grandmother’s home on Christmas Eve, just days after his own father passed. Baugh said the gesture to support him and his family is one of the reasons he decided to stay at Florida amid the culture shift Sumrall brought to the program. 

“Honestly, just have that swagger of being a Gator, the guys in the past like Brandon Spikes, Tim Tebow.” Baugh said. “Those guys had a swagger about themselves, and we’re just trying to bring that back.”

The next challenge for Florida is No. 4 Ole Miss in The Swamp Saturday. In this new culture, Sumrall had choice words in reaction to the Gators being favored by 3.5 points. 

“Who’s got us favored against these guys? Do they? There is a lot of good drugs out there,” Sumrall said about the Vegas odds.

Baugh emphasized that, saying they are still unproven. 

“(The coaching staff) has been preaching since they got here, we haven’t won anything,” Baugh said. “And being able to go out there Saturday and prove everyone wrong, but just prove to ourselves that we can compete with anybody.”

Baugh suggested feeling like an underdog is important to the team and allows them to play with a chip on their shoulder, and the coaches have emphasized that they still have a long way to go. 

“It’s an extra push, an extra drive that it gives to our team, a couple weeks ago nobody was really talking about us, and now, everybody is saying that we’re favorites,” Baugh said. “We haven’t won anything, we can play a lot better and we all feel the same way.”

As a form of motivation, Baugh also revealed that his phone lock screen is a picture of his only fumble in his collegiate career.

“It reminds me of how I felt when it happened, I feel like that was never me, and the coaches knew that, and the players knew that, and they got behind me,” Baugh said. “But I was very very hard on myself because I know the type of player I want to be, and I know what I am capable of, and those kinds of mistakes just can’t happen.”

Since then, Baugh recorded 456 touches and 403 rushing attempts without a fumble. He looks to continue the streak this Saturday, saying fans should expect to see “a very explosive show” from a team who is ready to play all four quarters Saturday night, when the Gators welcome the Rebels in the top-25 matchup. 

“We just can’t wait to display our talent on Saturday,” Baugh said.

Category: College Football, Football, Gator Sports, Gators Football, SEC