The preseason watchlist announcements continue to roll in this week, and the latest member of the 2025 Florida football squad to get the call is sophomore running back Jadan Baugh, who is one of 102 players named to the 2025 Doak Walker Award preseason watch list.
The ball carrier from Atlanta, Georgia, is among 31 sophomores mentioned on the list following a superb campaign in 2024. Baugh tied a program record of five rushing touchdowns in his first start — the only Gator to accomplish this feat in his collegiate debut — while also joining fellow freshman DJ Lagway in becoming the first true freshman running back and quarterback duo to start in the same game in UF history.
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Baugh played in all 13 games while leading the team with 673 rushing yards and eight total touchdowns last fall, and tied for a team-best seven rushing touchdowns while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Baugh’s efforts earned him a Freshman All-SEC honor for his work following the conclusion of the season.
He also excelled on special teams, averaging 21.6 yards per return while representing one of eight SEC players and one of 11 freshmen in FBS to have two 30-yard-plus kick returns. In the classroom, Baugh was named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll and Freshman All-SEC team.
Florida’s starting running back was also named to the Paul Hornung Award preseason watch list last week, which is given to the most versatile player in college football.
About the Doak Walker Award
The Doak Walker Award is presented to college football’s most outstanding running back and was named after SMU’s three-time All-American Doak Walker when it was created back in 1989. The award not only recognizes student-athletes’ abilities on the field, but also their dedication to work within the community and the classroom.
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The 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award are chosen by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum in November. The three finalists for the award are chosen in early December by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, which is comprised of past award recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-American running backs, media members, and a few selected special representatives.
The award winner will be announced live at The Home Depot College Football Awards on Friday, Dec. 12.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida Football: Jadan Baugh Doak Walker Award preseason watch list
