‘We’re Back’: Jadan Baugh Credits Jon Sumrall for Florida’s 4-0 Start
Times are changing in The Swamp.
Four games into the season, the Gators are undefeated, Jadan Baugh is having the best season of his career and a new culture is forming in Gainesville under coach Jon Sumrall.
Baugh joined “The Pat McAfee Show” to discuss the recent success of the Gators as they started the season 4-0.
Baugh has been on a tear in his junior season. Through four games, he ranks first nationally in rushing touchdowns (11), second nationally in total rushing yards (600) and tied for fifth nationally in carries (83).
Ask him what has fueled the success, and he’ll credit Sumrall and the new culture of the Gators.
“He (Jon Sumrall) came in and he set a standard for just the whole program in general … His somewhat outlook of what Florida should be like is being proved and we have a long way to go to set the standard for the world to understand that we’re going to be back and we’re back,” Baugh said.
Culture is the backbone of this team. Resilience and accountability have been at the forefront of Sumrall’s coaching practices. The “we over me” attitude has shown up on the field. Any night could be any guy’s game.
Saturday was a perfect example.
During Florida’s upset of then-No. 4 Ole Miss on Saturday, Duke Clark ran for 126 yards rushing and scored a touchdown. At times, Clark looked like the best running back on the field.
“That’s like my little brother honestly … I honestly was so proud every time he ran I had my hands up because I thought he was going to score every chance he got,” Baugh said.
Last Saturday, the duo made history becoming the first UF teammates to each run 100 yards or more in the same game since Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson Jr. in 2022. Together, they totaled 268 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.
The coaching staff and culture aren’t the only thing contributing to the new era in Gainesville. It’s The Swamp.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium has historically been known to be a tough place to play. However, the energy in the air just feels different this year, and Baugh agrees.
“The Swamp has always been The Swamp. If you were ever to come into the swamp it’s going to be a movie,” Baugh said. “You feel a cloud over your head that you just know like, oh man, it’s going to be trouble here.”
The Swamp was filled with 90,683 fans. Despite rough patches, the Gators have sold out 21 consecutive games.
Baugh knows that the team has to leave the high of last week behind as the Gators head to Missouri seeking their first 5-0 record since 2019.
On Sumrall’s message heading into the matchup, it hasn’t changed much all season. Every week the goal is to go 1-0.
“It’s all about us, it’s never about them,” Baugh said. “Whatever we need to do to win the game.”
While the times are changing in Gainesville, for Baugh and the Gators, the approach remains the same: whatever it takes to win.
Category: Gator Sports, Gators Football
