Texas Longhorns Begin Process to Pursue Florida’s Breakout Back Jadan Baugh…
The Texas Longhorns have quietly — and then not so quietly — begun laying the groundwork to add one of the Southeastern Conference’s most physically imposing and productive running backs to their program: Florida sophomore Jadan Baugh. The interest appears to have accelerated after Texas’ recent hire of Florida running-backs coach Jabbar Juluke, a move that connects the Longhorns directly to the coach who developed and recruited Baugh in Gainesville. If Texas follows through, the effort would be a marquee example of how coaching hires can trigger immediate roster ripple effects in college football’s modern era.
Below I unpack the who, why and how of the Texas interest: Baugh’s rise at Florida, the Juluke-Texas hire that created the bridge, what a potential move would mean for Texas (and for Baugh), and the practical hurdles any pursuit would face.
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The player: who is Jadan Baugh and why he matters
Jadan Baugh entered college with high expectations and has met — and in some cases exceeded — them. A four-star prospect out of Columbia High School (Decatur, GA), Baugh signed with Florida in December 2023 after a re-opened recruitment that featured offers from blue-blood programs across the country. He’s prototypical for today’s powerful, between-the-tackles runner: listed around 6’1″ and roughly 230 pounds, with the combination of size, contact balance and surprising receiving chops that make him a three-down threat.
On the field, Baugh broke out quickly. By the 2025 season he piled up more than 1,100 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, becoming Florida’s first 1,000-yard rusher in a decade and earning conference recognition. That production, paired with physical traits and youth (he’s a sophomore heading into his junior season), makes Baugh one of the most desirable running backs in the college ranks — whether you’re trying to defend against him or recruit him.
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The catalyst: Jabbar Juluke’s move to Texas
The clearest proximate cause for Texas’ emerging interest is the arrival of Jabbar Juluke to the Longhorns’ staff. Juluke was Florida’s running-backs coach and associate head coach and has been widely credited with developing and maximizing Baugh’s skill set. Within hours of Juluke’s hiring at Texas, stories and recruiting chatter began focusing on the realignment possibilities: coaches often bring relationships with players and recruits with them — and players sometimes follow when trust, scheme fit and opportunity align.
That pathway has concrete precedent: Juluke recruited and coached Baugh in Gainesville, and reports emphasize Juluke’s recruiting touch and rapport with running-back prospects. Juluke’s move provides Texas with not only inside knowledge of Baugh’s strengths and personality but also a direct line of communication that could be persuasive if the Longhorns decide to make a formal play.
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What “begins the process” looks like
When college programs “begin the process” to land a current FBS player, they are usually doing a mix of the following:
1. Internal evaluation and fit analysis — coaches and staff grade the player on film, medical history, and scheme fit (does this back fit the Longhorns’ blocking schemes and carry load?).
2. Compliance planning — staff checks NCAA transfer rules, scholarship availability, and roster math.
3. Recruiting/relationship work — the new coach (Juluke, in this case) quietly reaches out to the player and his representatives (and perhaps to family) to gauge interest and explain the vision. That outreach is often the first true sign that a program is “in” on a player.
4. Public posture and PR — the program may keep things quiet or begin to float the possibility to media and transfer market watchers to test reaction.
From what’s public, Texas appears to be in the first three phases: they have the coach who recruited and coached Baugh, alumni and media are speculating about follow-on recruiting activity, and inside-sources pieces are already flagging Baugh as someone Texas would be inclined to pursue. That’s typically enough to say a program has “begun the process.”
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Why Texas would want Baugh — schematic and strategic reasons
A few reasons explain why Baugh would be an attractive target for Texas:
Immediate production: Baugh has already proven he can be a 1,000-yard rusher at the Power 5 level. That’s valuable for any team looking for consistent, physical rushing production.
Size and durability profile: At roughly 230 pounds with contact balance, Baugh is the kind of bell-cow back who can grind defenses and finish drives in the red zone. Texas’ offense, which has oscillated between power and outside-zone concepts under Steve Sarkisian, could use a more physical complement.
Familiarity with the coach: The Juluke connection reduces acclimation friction. A player who has an established rapport with a coach is easier to integrate into a new program’s culture and gameplan.
Recruiting optics: Signing (or landing via the transfer portal) a 1,000-yard SEC back sends a message in recruiting and among the fanbase — it signals Texas is not just hiring assistants, it’s also targeting top-level talent.
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What Baugh (and Florida) would weigh
From Baugh’s perspective, there are several factors that would shape a decision:
Playing time and role: He’s already a feature back at Florida; moving would make sense only if the Longhorns promised a similar or clearer role and offensive philosophy tailored to his strengths.
Coaching stability and development: Following Juluke could seem like the path of least resistance, but players also evaluate the entire staff, quarterback play, offensive line outlook, and NFL development track record.
Academic and personal considerations: Proximity to family, degree progress, and life after football matter. Florida is a major program with its own infrastructure; leaving that behind is a weighty choice.
Transfer logistics and eligibility: NCAA/transfer rules, scholarship availability, and roster limits all factor into the feasibility. Recent rule changes and precedent make transfers easier, but they’re not automatic.
For Florida, keeping Baugh is a priority. Coverage from multiple outlets has framed Baugh as a player Florida will work to retain — both because of his production and because he’s a cornerstone for the offense heading into the next seasons. If Texas is interested, Florida’s staff will almost certainly go to great lengths to reaffirm Baugh’s role and relationship within Gainesville.
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Obstacles and realistic chances
Several obstacles temper how far this recruitment could go:
Contractual and roster realities: Baugh is currently on scholarship at Florida. Any move would likely be via transfer portal — which requires the player to enter the portal and accept — and Texas must have a scholarship and a roster spot available.
Competitive marketplace: Big programs around the country (and Florida itself) will surface as suitors; Texas would be competing with other schools that could offer their own advantages.
Player preference: Not every player follows a coach. Some prefer program continuity, proximity to family, or a particular offensive system. Baugh’s personal priorities will do as much to decide outcomes as any coach’s pitch.
Fan and media pressure: High-profile transfer pursuits draw scrutiny; both programs must manage optics and expectations. A failed, public recruitment attempt can become a distraction.
Given those factors, Texas’ interest should be viewed as serious yet speculative at this stage: the coach connection gives the Longhorns a meaningful in, but transfers still require alignment across several moving parts.
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What it would mean for Texas football
If Texas were to land Baugh — whether by an outright transfer or by recruiting him to commit to Texas in some other capacity — the immediate football upside is clear: an explosive, downhill runner who can carry the load and open up play-action. Strategically, signing a player with Baugh’s SEC production would be a recruiting coup and a tangible signal that Texas is leveraging coaching hires into roster improvements.
Longer-term, it would also reflect a trend in top programs using staff moves to reshape rosters quickly. The modern recruiting environment means relationships matter more than ever; coaches who move rarely come without the hope of bringing talent with them. If the Longhorns convert interest into a commitment, other programs will note the model. If they don’t, the episode will still speak to how interconnected coaching moves and player movement are in 2025-era college football.
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The timeline to watch
For interested fans and media, look for these signals over the coming weeks:
Public comments from Juluke or Texas staff about running back recruiting or specific praise of Baugh.
Baugh entering the transfer portal — the clearest technical step that would make a move possible.
Florida’s public retention efforts (e.g., reaffirming role, new NIL offers, public praise) which would indicate the Gators are working to keep him.
Social media/insider chatter about visits, phone calls, or recruitment pitches. Those are noisy but often predictive.
At the moment, reporting shows that the hiring bridge exists (Juluke → Texas) and that Baugh is among the players who could be affected — but there is no public confirmation that Baugh wants to transfer or that Texas has made a formal offer beyond internal recruitment planning.
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Bottom line
Texas’ recruitment of Jadan Baugh is best described as an initiated process rather than a closed deal. The new coach connection gives the Longhorns a persuasive advantage and provides a credible reason to believe Texas will try to make a play. Still, transfers are complex and involve personal, logistical and institutional considerations. For now, followers of both programs should expect active conversation, competitive back-and-forth, and the type of roster chess that will play out publicly if and when Baugh enters the portal or new developments arise.
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