‘So Deserving’: Florida Football Fans Surprised Following Star Rushers Exclusion From 2024 All-American Team
The Florida football team had an up-and-down season in 2024, filled primarily with forgettable valleys. This season, despite aspirations to compete atop the SEC for the first time since 2019, the Florida Gators went 7-5 while posting a losing record against ranked teams. However, following a one-year bowl absence, Florida will return to postseason play this year after eclipsing six wins following a three-game winning streak to end the year.
Offensively, Billy Napier’s Florida football team leaned on freshmen late in the season, highlighted by the backfield duo of quarterback DJ Lagway and running back Jadan Baugh. On Friday, one prominent college football media outlet released their 2024 True Freshman All-American teams, honoring Lagway for his solid performance in relief of injured starting signal-caller Graham Mertz. Meanwhile, the Gator faithful was left dumbfounded by the exclusion of Baugh following a largely successful first season in Gainsville.
Florida Fans Question On3’s True Freshman Selection
Among those to make the 2024 True Freshman All-American Team crafted by On3 is Florida football quarterback DJ Lagway. In 11 games this season, Lagway threw for 1,610 yards, 11 touchdowns, and six picks. He also ran for 97 yards. He threw five touchdowns against two picks in his final three games, all wins, including two victories over ranked LSU and Ole Miss. However, Florida fans were taken aback by the absence of fellow star true freshman Jadan Baugh.
As a true freshman, Baugh led the Florida Gators with 603 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught three passes for 27 yards and a score. He ended the season on a high note, rushing for 81 yards on 11 carries against rival Florida State. However, On3 picked Louisville’s Isaac Brown and Louisiana Monroe’s Ahmad Hardy over Baugh. Brown rushed for 1,074 yards and 11 touchdowns on an ACC-best 7.4 yards per attempt. Meanwhile, Hardy rushed for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns. Albeit a significant difference in statistical output, Florida football fans believe Jadan Baugh deserved more recognition as a top true freshman running back:
Jaden Baugh, RB from Florida definitely should’ve been on this list.
