Billy Napier Praises Florida's 'Exceptional' 2024 RB Haul

Running backs Kahnen Daniels and Jadan Baugh received glowing reviews after signing with Florida on Early National Signing Day.

Running backs still matter at the University of Florida.  

Within the current structure of the Gators' offense, dependable and talented ball carriers are a necessity. Over the past two seasons, the unit has seen the likes of Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne find immense success on the ground, leading to considerable intrigue from prospective rushers around the country.

On Early National Signing Day, two additions were made to the Florida backfield as Kahnen Daniels and Jadan Baugh signed up to eventually overtake the reins of the spot in the foreseeable future.

"These two backs that we added to our team, they're both exceptional," Gators head coach Billy Napier said after receiving their respective Letters of Intent on Dec. 20.

Daniels, who pledged himself to the Florida program on April 10, has long been considered a high-upside rusher with the ability to operate as a star-caliber weapon. 

"Kahnen Daniels rushed for 2,700 yards," Napier commented. "He's a team captain. He won a state championship. He's Player of the Year in his classification at Mississippi. He's got a phenomenal story when you get a chance to get to know KD and the things he's overcome and the people that have impacted his life, the program that he plays for, the toughness. If you're from West Port, Mississippi, you're a tough dude."

Despite serving in an unorthodox offense at West Point High, the impressive body of work he assembled throughout his high school career suggested a smooth transition to the SEC even before a historic final prep campaign. 

His senior season helped prove his worth from a numbers perspective, as his statistics rival even the most productive ball carriers in the nation with 2,484 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground in 2023. He also ran for nearly ten yards per carry on the season, showcasing his explosiveness, ball carrier vision and short-area burst to squeeze through even tight holes at the point of attack.

Gators running back Kahnen Daniels on an unofficial visit before his eventual commitment. He officially signed with Florida as part of Early National Signing Day on Dec. 20 after posting more than 5,000 rushing yards and 58 touchdowns in three varsity seasons

Daniels saw an exponential increase in his rankings, according to 247Sports, as a result, climbing from No. 474 overall to No. 187 (No. 13 RB) in the 2024 recruiting class just before he put pen to paper with UF.

The impressive early evaluation by Florida running backs coach Jabbar Juluke has the potential to pay dividends for the position group upon his arrival but for more than his on-field talent. Additionally, the toughness and leadership traits he brings are a microcosm of the overall culture the Gators aim to build, according to Napier. 

"He's been a guy that sets the tone in the program," Napier said. "Not only a tough program, but we got the toughest dude out of a tough program."

Despite Florida's expressed content in taking just Daniels throughout most of the cycle, he's not the lone ball carrier Florida looks forward to joining the expanding pool of talent.

The Gators continued to flirt with prospects committed elsewhere heading into the 2023 season, with players like Baugh and eventual Missouri signee Kewan Lacy aligning as potential flip prospects.

Doing so would allow the Gators to meet the staff's criteria before the calendar turned from 2023 to 2024, filling the second spot in a desired two-man position class. But, it wasn't a primary focus, as other glaring needs trumped the running back spot on the pecking order. 

However, when early offseason roster attrition began — as Etienne elected to enter the portal and eventually transfer to Georgia — the unit's scouring of the market was no longer a luxury. It was a need.

And Baugh became a primary target on the remaining-prospect hot board.

Napier and Co. hosted the Peach State native on campus in Gainesville from Dec. 8-10, aiming to lure him away from his Arkansas pledge and fend off surging prospective suitor Alabama for his services.

The official trek to UF left a lasting impression on the 6-foot, 230-pound ball carrier as he evaluated his options down the stretch, particularly his relationship with running backs coach Jabbar Juluke. He backed off his pledge to the Razorbacks two days before signing day, moving forward with Alabama and Florida as the two legitimate contenders for his services, although unofficially.

Thanks largely to the relationship Baugh built with Juluke, and the run-heavy offensive style the Gators employ, he chose to officially join Daniels as an incoming running back for UF.

Baugh will enroll in January, along with 14 others in the 18-person class the Gators brought in this cycle. The well-built athlete can begin to acclimate within the constructs of the squad's offense with his early move to the collegiate level.

Napier expressed his fondness of the Decatur (Ga.) prospect as he gears up for his move to campus, creating anticipation for his insertion into the backfield rotation.

"In my opinion, if you just go watch senior film and you know that guy is 6-foot and 3/4s," Napier said. "He weighed 230 pounds on his official visit. He's carrying the ball, running routes, playing safety, linebacker, wildcat quarterback."

Baugh shined in an uber-productive fashion as a senior, accounting for 1,583 yards and 19 touchdowns on 113 carries to pair with 531 yards and six touchdowns on 28 receptions. He showcased the Florida staff's desired blend of patience, burst and physicality as a stout, physically imposing rusher during the campaign, likened to current Florida running back Montrell Johnson Jr.

He also added 54 tackles, six interceptions and seven pass breakups on the defensive side of the football.

Now, Florida will look to tap into his multi-dimensional skillset when he starts to earn touches.

Gators running back on his official visit to campus Dec. 8-10. He announced his pledge and signed with Florida on Early National Signing Day, providing fellow signee Kahnen Daniels a backfield mate in the 2024 recruiting class

"I'm very versatile, so I can play receiver, running back and he said they used their running backs well in the passing game, too," Baugh said on Dec. 10 when asked about how Florida described his potential role to him during his official visit. "They run the ball a lot and you can see, he said the whole weekend, 'Numbers don't lie.' They have two running backs in the top ten [in the SEC] for rushing." 

The incoming duo of true freshmen has a path toward early playing time within the restructured Florida running back rotation in 2024. 

Behind incumbent starter Johnson, there is a logjam of potential emerging No. 2 backs in the room, with 2023 recruit Treyaun Webb and seventh-year senior Cam Carroll — returning from a season-ending knee injury suffered in the team's fall camp regimen prior to Week 1 in 2023 — vying to make the ascension into the role.

The staff's high expectations for Baugh and Daniels align them well within the mix to compete for a share of the snaps and carries from the backfield. 

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