Florida running back Jadan Baugh ran for 160 yards and three touchdowns in the Gators' season-opening win over FAU on Saturday night.
He spoke to the press after the game and discussed his 61-yard run, the benefits of playing at a lighter weight and the importance of Florida’s perimeter blocking. He also explained the Heisman poses he struck after scoring and what he saw while breaking into the open field.
The junior also shared his thoughts on Aaron Philo’s first start, Florida’s faster offensive operation and his growing role as a leader.
Here’s everything Baugh had to say.
How did it feel to execute the offense and score 66 points after working on it for nine months?
It felt great to me, honestly. Just being in The Swamp, seeing the fans and hearing how loud it gets. Early in the game, it got very loud, and I looked back at the stands like,
“Wow, that’s crazy.”
I’m proud of the guys. We came out here and put our full effort into it. Honestly, I’m just ready to do it again.
How does it feel to reach 2,000 career rushing yards?
I didn’t know that. It feels good. Honestly, I just want to keep going, though.
How important is it to make the most of your opportunities in this offense?
Definitely. I’ve been saying this for the longest. I feel like any of our guys on the team can pop one and score a touchdown. I feel like we’re all out there competing, ready to go and make plays.
How did you respond after the miscue on the Wildcat play?
Honestly, it was kind of new just being out there, not just for me but for the offensive line as well. Me and Harry looked at it like, “Okay, good. Bad plays happen, and we’re going to face adversity.” We were ready to overcome it.
What did you think of Aaron Philo’s performance?
It was great to me, honestly, because Aaron has been working for it for so long. He has had ups and downs while being here. I was more proud of him for being able to control the huddle and get the offensive operation to flow as smoothly as it did.
Did playing at a lighter weight help you on the 61-yard run?
Yeah, my weight played a good part in it. The training staff, Coach Whitt and I have been working on it for so long. It got me into tip-top shape, and I feel like that played a big part in it today.
What did you think of the blocking from Florida’s wide receivers?
It was great. I tell them all the time that, if I’m out there, I’m going to block my butt off because I want to see those guys do great. To see them strain like they did today felt so great. It made me happy to see them put what they can do out there.
How important was it to open the season with an explosive run?
It was good. Like you just said, Coach Buster is always on me about being explosive and being able to make a run. That gave me a lot more confidence going into the season and made me ready to play.
What did you see on the 61-yard run?
Grass. Green grass. That’s it. I saw my receivers blocking, and I was like, “It’s ready to go.”
How was the communication with Philo while operating at a faster pace?
It was very, very surprising to me to see how well Philo operated the offense. If he can keep doing that every week, it’s going to be trouble for a lot of people.
What was behind the Heisman poses after your touchdowns?
It was a statement. My guys and I worked for it so hard. I really want to give props to my offensive line. They played their butts off today, and they helped me get to do those poses and stuff. It was a statement for not just me but the offensive line and the whole offense, honestly.
How important was it to establish the run and run downhill?
That’s what we work on. We want to let the whole world know that, when we’re running the ball, we’re going to run the ball. We want y’all to be there and understand that y’all can’t stop it. We’re ready to keep putting our best foot forward.
How close was the offense to playing a perfect game?
Honestly, I feel like there’s never a perfect game. There are a lot of things we have to work on as an offense and as a defense. I feel like the defense went out there and played its butt off.
We gave up a few things because that’s what happens. It’s football. But we have a lot of things to work on, so I don’t really look at it as a perfect game.
What was your response when Sumrall told you he was glad you stayed at Florida?
I love being a Gator. That’s all it is. Just being able to walk out there today, see the fans and see the guys’ faces smiling was special. Some of the new guys had never seen anything like this before. Seeing them get big-eyed made me the most excited.
How has your leadership role changed this season?
I’m being a lot more vocal and using my voice. I’m getting the guys to understand that we can be one of the best offenses in the country. Being able to use my voice and get my guys to do what we need to do is the main thing I’ve been focusing on lately.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Jadan Baugh makes statement in Florida's win over FAU
