Who Will Lead Florida’s Backfield During Montrell Johnson’s Absence?
Senior running back Montrell Johnson, who has led Florida in rushing for the past two seasons and is featured on several preseason All-SEC lists and the Doak Walker Award Watchlist, suffered a knee injury during fall camp that required minor surgery. According to reports, Johnson is considered “week to week.”
With Johnson potentially missing a significant part of fall camp and possibly the season opener against Miami, the Gators will need to turn to sophomore running back Treyaun Webb. Webb, who is 5’11” and 211 pounds, was Florida’s RB3 last season, amassing 163 rushing yards on 26 attempts with an average of 6.3 yards per carry, and adding four receptions for 18 yards.
Reflecting on his freshman year, Webb stated, “I’d probably say just being able to go out there and get my feet wet, get a feel for the game. Now I feel like in year two I’ll be able to play faster. I kind of have a feel for the game, so I feel like that’s going to help me a lot in year two.”
Webb was already expected to take on a larger role this season following the transfer of running back Trevor Etienne to the Georgia Bulldogs. “I got recruited to be Treyaun Webb, not Trevor Etienne,” Webb said regarding his opportunity this season. “So I feel I have an opportunity to really show what I could do this year and make the most of it.”
During the offseason, Webb focused on becoming a complete back, aiming to meet the NFL’s expectations. “I feel like I kind of have an advantage as far as pass protection, I’ve done that well. Really, I want to build off that, keep elevating my game. I have a lot to work on,” Webb said during spring camp. The Jacksonville, Florida native is the leading candidate for first-team reps while Johnson is sidelined.
Redshirt Junior Ja’Kobi Jackson
JUCO transfer Ja’Kobi Jackson joined the team last year but redshirted without appearing in a game. Jackson impressed during spring scrimmages and in Florida’s Orange and Blue game, rushing for 60 yards on five attempts and leading both teams in average yards per carry (12) and explosive plays. The 5’10.5″, 209-pound running back is Florida’s most explosive option with his breakaway speed. “Ja’Kobi is a great player. He’s shifty. He’s fast. I feel like he’s going to shock the world, as well, come fall, and I feel like a lot of people doubt him,” Montrell Johnson said about Jackson last season.
Freshman Jadan Baugh
True freshman Jadan Baugh has made a significant impact since arriving on campus in the spring semester. Baugh, who primarily worked as the starting running back for the second-team offense during spring camp, rushed for 77 yards on 12 carries in Florida’s Orange and Blue Spring game, showcasing impressive lateral movement and acceleration. Since then, Baugh has dropped 10 pounds and is poised for a larger role during Johnson’s absence. His early playing time will depend on his understanding of the playbook and assignments related to pass protection. While there is no doubt about Baugh’s running ability, he needs to excel in other areas to move up the depth chart. Baugh is expected to have an expanded role as the season progresses.
Florida will miss Johnson’s experience and pass-catching ability, but they have depth at the running back position and should be able to manage until Johnson returns. It would not be surprising to see Webb, Jackson, and Baugh all getting carries against Miami in week one.
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