Feature Story — What If: Texas Longhorns Announce Deal for Florida Gators RB Jadan Baugh…
(A long-form analysis of the move, its context, and what it would mean for Texas and Florida — presented as a detailed, clearly labeled hypothetical scenario. As of Dec 13, 2025, there is no verified public report that Jadan Baugh has signed with Texas; this article explores the deal’s plausibility and consequences in depth.)
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Headline
Texas Longhorns Plan Ahead for 2026: Imagining a Deal for Florida Gators’ Breakout RB Jadan Baugh
> Note: this is a hypothetical feature that assumes Texas and Jadan Baugh reached a transfer/commitment agreement. It draws on verified facts about coaching moves, Baugh’s season, and portal mechanics — and makes clear where the scenario is speculative.
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Introduction — The Scoop That Hasn’t Happened (Yet)
Imagine this: on a crisp December evening, the Texas Longhorns announce a blockbuster addition to their offense — a deal to add Florida sophomore running back Jadan Baugh to their 2026 roster. The move reunites Baugh with Jabbar Juluke, the former Florida running backs coach who recently accepted the running backs/associate head coach role at Texas — a snap that, in theory, would make Austin an attractive landing spot for the bruising back. While this exact signing has not been confirmed by any major outlet as of December 13, 2025, the pieces that would make such a move plausible — Juluke’s hire, Baugh’s breakout 2025 season, and Texas’ need for backfield help — are real and verifiable.
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The Background: Why This Deal Would Make Sense
Jabbar Juluke’s Move to Austin
Texas’ December 2025 hiring of Jabbar Juluke as associate head coach (offense) and running backs coach is fact — the Longhorns announced the hire as they sought to stabilize a position room that had been unsettled following staff changes. Juluke’s résumé includes time at Florida and a track record developing physical, NFL-caliber backs. That coaching reunion is the central engine of the hypothetical Baugh move.
Jadan Baugh: The Player
Baugh’s 2025 season vaulted him into the national conversation. The sophomore ran for over 1,100 yards and showed a downhill, three-down skill set that projects well to power offenses and pro evaluations — the kind of player who can change the identity of a backfield immediately. That production makes him both an attractive target for programs in need and a player Florida will likely try hard to retain.
Texas’ Roster Need
The Longhorns enter the 2026 planning window with questions at running back after departures and portal movement. Adding an established, physical runner would address both the immediate depth chart and the stylistic preferences of an offense that wants to be balanced and physical. Multiple analysis pieces have listed Baugh as an ideal portal target for Texas should he become available.
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The Announcement (Hypothetical Text)
Texas Athletics — December XX, 2025
The University of Texas announced today that it has reached an agreement with running back Jadan Baugh (Florida) pending NCAA transfer formalities. Baugh, a 6’1″, 230-lb sophomore, will join the Longhorns for the 2026 season and is expected to be immediately eligible under current NCAA transfer rules. Texas also confirmed the addition reunites Baugh with running backs coach Jabbar Juluke, who served as Baugh’s position coach in Gainesville in 2025.
> Again: The paragraph above is a hypothetical press-release style text, created for this feature. Readers should consult official Texas or Florida releases for verified information.
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Strategic Fit: How Baugh Would Change Texas’ Offense
1. A True Three-Down Back
Baugh’s blend of size, contact balance, and receiving chops gives him three-down potential. For Texas, which has oscillated between explosive pass-first looks and inconsistent ground games, adding a dependable inside runner would stabilize the offense and open play-action opportunities. Much of this projection stems from his on-field production in 2025.
2. Complement to Existing Personnel
If Quintrevion Wisner (or other returning backs) remains on the roster, the Longhorns would have the luxury of pairing a power runner with a quicker, pass-catching complement — schematically similar to NFL tandems that force defenses to prepare for multiple styles. Depth would also protect against the attrition that kills championship runs.
3. Recruiting & Local Momentum
The Juluke-Baugh reunion would have recruiting reverberations. Juluke’s Louisiana and regional ties — coupled with landing a high-profile SEC back — would signal that Texas can compete for top-level talent beyond the state, potentially producing momentum for the 2026 recruiting class.
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Financials, Eligibility & Roster Mechanics (What Would Need to Happen)
The Transfer Portal Process
For Baugh to join Texas, one of two public routes typically occurs: (1) the player enters the NCAA transfer portal and then publicly commits to another program, or (2) an agreement is reached during the portal window and announced after the paperwork. Transfer windows, waivers, and eligibility rules must be navigated — and these are subject to NCAA policy updates. In January 2026 there will be a main portal window where many moves are formalized.
NIL & Financial Considerations
A high-profile portal move often involves NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) structuring to benefit the player. If Baugh were to move to Texas, Texas’ booster and NIL infrastructure would likely be involved in crafting opportunities. Florida, conversely, could increase NIL offers to retain him; those behind-the-scenes negotiations often determine whether a top underclassman stays or departs.
Scholarship Count & Roster Spot
Texas would need an open scholarship or be willing to make a roster adjustment to add Baugh. Longhorns staff and compliance would handle these logistics, but they’re a nontrivial part of any portal acquisition.
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Reaction from Stakeholders (How Fans, Analysts, and NFL Scouts Would Respond)
Texas Fans
A hypothetical Baugh addition would generate immediate excitement among the Burnt Orange fanbase. The move would be framed as a statement of intent: Texas isn’t just rebuilding it’s reloading with proven, SEC-tested talent.
Florida Fans
Gators fans would likely view this as a major loss — a dynamic runner produced in Gainesville who could have led the offense for multiple seasons. Florida’s staff would likely try to keep him; the hiring of Jon Sumrall and the staff turnover complicates retention dynamics.
NFL Scouts
Baugh’s NFL stock could be affected both positively and negatively by a move. Playing in the Big 12 could showcase him in more open schemes and against different defensive looks; alternatively, questions about system fit and workload management would be evaluated closely at the next pro day and across film study.
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Coaching & Scheme: How Juluke Could Deploy Baugh in Austin
Juluke’s familiarity with Baugh allows for a near-instant integration into the Longhorns’ run game plan. Expect:
Power-between-the-tackles carries on early downs to set tempo.
Third-down and passing-down usage given Baugh’s receiving experience in college.
Goal-line and short-yardage packages that maximize his contact balance.
Juluke’s scheme would likely emphasize downhill running plus comfortable pass protections — getting the ball into Baugh’s hands in space and letting him finish runs with contact-breaking ability.
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The Broader Landscape: What This Move Says About College Football in 2026
Adding a player like Baugh via the portal would underline several modern realities:
1. Coaching continuity matters. Reuniting players with their former position coaches is one of the portal’s clearest magnets. Juluke’s move to Texas is the root of many Baugh-to-Texas rumors.
2. Portal parity has reshaped roster building. Programs can now be aggressive year-to-year via transfers, shortening rebuild timelines.
3. NIL and player leverage increase movement. The top players have more agency in where they play, and staff moves accelerate decision timetables.
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Possible Objections & Counterarguments
Florida will fight to keep him. Given Baugh’s production, it’s reasonable to expect Florida to offer competitive incentives to retain him. Reliable reports have suggested he’s more likely to stay in Gainesville for another season — which is a critical caveat to this hypothetical.
Eligibility and optics. Mid-offseason moves always carry optics and eligibility questions; Texas would need to manage messaging about roster balance and amateurism compliance.
Fit vs. culture. Not every transfer meshes with a new locker room culture; integration is never guaranteed.
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Timeline: How the Deal Would Likely Unfold (Hypothetical)
1. Early January 2026: Player formally enters transfer portal (if he does). Transfer windows open; recruiting contacts accelerate.
2. Mid-January 2026: Texas staff intensifies contact and completes recruitment pitch, leveraging Juluke’s relationship.
3. Late January 2026: Player announces commitment to Texas; Texas files necessary scholarship paperwork.
4. Spring 2026: Baugh participates in spring ball in Austin, begins install of new run game concepts, and meets with NIL partners.
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Potential 2026 On-Field Impact — A Statistical Projection (Illustrative)
If Baugh were to join Texas and adapt smoothly to the offense, a conservative projection for 2026 might look like:
1,000+ rushing yards, 8–12 rushing TDs — assuming healthy usage and adaptation.
40–50 receptions, 300–450 receiving yards — if utilized in third-down packages.
(These numbers are illustrative projections based on 2025 production trends and Texas’ offensive volume; they are not guaranteed outcomes.)
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What This Move Would Mean for the Longhorns’ Title Odds
Adding a high-caliber SEC back could modestly improve Texas’ conference title chances by shoring up the run game and controlling pace. However, championships hinge on many variables — quarterback play, offensive line health, special teams, and defense. The portal addition would be an important piece, but not the singular solution.
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Final Verdict (Clear & Cautious)
A real, confirmed deal bringing Jadan Baugh from Florida to Texas would be headline-making and strategically significant. The underlying ingredients that make this hypothetical plausible are in place: Juluke’s hiring at Texas, Baugh’s breakout season, and Texas’ need at running back. That said, as of December 13, 2025, no reputable outlet has confirmed that Baugh has left Florida for Texas — reporting to date emphasizes speculation and the potential for such a move rather than a completed transaction. Readers should treat any actual “announcement” claims cautiously and verify with official Texas or Florida communications.
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Sources & Further Reading (Selected)
Texas Longhorns — official staff announcement (Dec 12, 2025) — Football names Jabbar Juluke as associate head coach (offense)/running backs coach.
Houston Chronicle — Texas Longhorns hire Jabbar Juluke from Florida.
Sports Illustrated / On3 / CBS Sports pieces evaluating portal targets and naming Jadan Baugh among potential fits for Texas.
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Want a Follow-Up?
I can now:
Convert this hypothetical feature into a news-style article that reads like a press release (shorter, punchier).
Produce a Spanish or Portuguese version.
Track the story and compile a timeline if and when an actual commitment or portal entry happens (I can pull new sources and update citations).
Which would you like next?
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