Columbia alum soars through opening weeks

Columbia High School alum Jadan Baugh has found individual and team success at every stop he has made, from competing for a basketball state championship at Columbia as a freshman to gracing Heisman Trophy watchlists as University of Florida’s star football player. 

Baugh, currently a junior at University of Florida, leads the nation in rushing touchdowns and is second nationally in rushing yards. The start of his junior campaign has taken Baugh from a Heisman hopeful to a full-blown candidate, with analysts giving Baugh a chance to win college football’s most coveted individual award. The junior from Decatur was even asked about his Heisman aspirations on ESPN. 

“Honestly, I never look at it as pressure,” Baugh said in his ESPN interview. “It’s really just an extra push for me … my dad sends me the Heisman Trophy [watchlist], and he tells me, ‘go get that for me.’” 

Baugh’s 600 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns through four games don’t come as a surprise to those familiar with the star running back’s game. 

As a freshman at Florida, Baugh tied Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow’s single-game rushing touchdown record. As a sophomore, Baugh had University of Florida’s first 1,000-yard rushing season in a decade. Baugh was just as dangerous during his time at Columbia, going for 1,583 rushing yards, 19 touchdowns, 54 tackles, and six interceptions his senior year. 

The electric start to his junior campaign has given the Florida Gators a 4-0 start, a top 25 ranking, and a top five win against Ole Miss under first-year head coach Jon Sumrall. 

Baugh will be eligible for the NFL Draft once he completes his junior season, and analysts at Pro Football Focus (PFF) are beginning to move him up the ranks. Excerpts from Baugh’s scouting report by PFF state “some analysts believe he could be drafted as early as the top 10,” and that currently Baugh “is the running back setting the pace” for the draft. 

Baugh and the Gators are on a bye-week as they prepare to host University of South Carolina on Oct. 10.