Thanks For Staying: Jadan Baugh Gives Sumrall 160 Reasons To Be Grateful

Baugh struck his Heisman pose to call attention to his offensive line, he said. (Chris Spears Photo)

Jon Sumrall knew Jadan Baugh was good. Saturday night, Florida’s new coach discovered just how good.

I knew he was good, too, and began singing praises for Baugh the moment he set foot on Steve Spurrier Florida Field in the spring game. He has paid it forward. 

And here we go.

Fourteen carries. 160 yards. Three touchdowns. One spectacular 61-yard burst. And most of it accomplished before Baugh’s evening ended following Florida’s first possession of the third quarter in a 66-21 demolition of Florida Atlantic.

This wasn’t just a football game. It was Baugh’s thank-you note to Sumrall and Florida.

Or perhaps it was the other way around.

Call it a mutual admiration society.

“Man, he is a powerful, sudden, violent runner who can stick his foot in the ground,” said Sumrall. “On his long run, the most impressive part to me was the end, when he stops on a dime and makes two guys miss — and then the downfield blocking, too.”

Before kickoff, Sumrall sought out his star running back and delivered a message that was considerably more important than any last-minute coaching point.

“I said before the game, ‘I’m glad you’re still here. Thanks for staying,’” Sumrall said. “Very glad he’s a Florida Gator. Loved his play style and loved his demeanor.

Florida fans ought to thank him, too.

When Sumrall took the job, keeping Baugh in Gainesville wasn’t merely an item on a checklist. It was Job One. Baugh was coming off a 1,170-yard season and a 266-yard farewell to Florida State, and the transfer-portal vultures were circling.

So Sumrall went recruiting. Again.

He traveled to Baugh’s grandmother’s house in Atlanta on Christmas Eve, bringing members of his family and making the case that No. 13 should remain a Florida Gator.

Baugh stayed.

Saturday, he paid the first installment on that decision.

“Yeah, he’s a really good football player,” Sumrall said, producing the early leader for Understatement of the Year. “I tell Buster (Faulkner) all the time, ‘You don’t know what to do, just hand it to 13. It’ll work usually.’ He’s phenomenal. He’s a great kid. Every bit as good as I thought he would be.”

That’s a pretty good offensive philosophy.

When in doubt, dial 13.

Baugh showed power, speed and enough open-field electricity to strike a Heisman pose. His 61-yard run was the longest of his Florida career, and it carried him past 2,000 career rushing yards on his 367th attempt, making him the 10th-fastest Gator to reach that milestone.

What did he see on the long run?

“Grass. Green grass. That’s it,” Baugh said. “I saw my receivers blocking, and I was like, ‘It’s ready to go.’”

And from now on, I think Baugh will see a lot of green grass, blue skies – and green lights!

Sumrall saw something more. He saw Baugh plant his foot near the end of the run and fight for additional yardage instead of assuming the play was over.

“Great to see him stick his foot in the ground at the end of that run and get more and not just think the journey was over,” Sumrall said. “We’ve challenged him with that.”

The coach also credited Florida’s receivers for turning ordinary gains into explosive plays with their perimeter blocking. “Our receivers blocked their ass off,” Sumrall said, praising their edge and competitiveness.”

But Sumrall’s favorite Baugh moment may have come after the running back was finished.

With younger backs receiving late-game opportunities, Baugh stood on the sideline celebrating their success. Sumrall noticed.

“Seeing his excitement for his teammates says a lot about him, too,” the coach said.

There’s the real story.

The rushing yards will get Baugh on the highlight shows. The touchdowns will fuel an early Heisman conversation. But the combination of talent, loyalty and leadership is what could take Florida somewhere it hasn’t been lately.

Baugh explained his decision more simply.

“I love being a Gator,” he said. “That’s all it is.”

Sumrall thanked him for staying.

After Saturday night, Gator Nation should form a line.