Gators Position Preview: Running Back

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In what has become the norm across college football, waves of transfers from coast to coast headlined the offseason. The departure of Gators running back Trevor Etienne to Georgia was one of the most notable.

Losing one of your top players to one of your top rivals is never ideal, and Etienne’s exit stung the Gators and their fans.

“It was like an outrage, kind of,” said Montrell Johnson Jr. at SEC Media Days. “But at the same time, he’s our friend, and we knew he was trying to make the best decision for himself. So, we weren’t really mad about it.”

Johnson probably had the slightest reason to be upset. The senior from New Orleans knows what it’s like to transfer. He followed head coach Billy Napier from Louisiana after his freshman season when Napier took the Florida job.

Johnson’s move has benefited both parties. He has rushed for more than 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns in his two seasons at Florida, providing Napier a reliable weapon on offense from his first game.

Meanwhile, Johnson entered preseason camp with a renewed vision, knowing he would not split carries with Etienne.

“I expect to get the ball more,” he said. “I’m not worried about it because I feel like I can hold the load on my own.”

Johnson’s plan was on track until he suffered a knee injury the first week of camp. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery for an issue that Napier termed “minor,” and Johnson is currently rehabbing and able to bear weight on his knee.

He is listed week to week with the season opener against Miami in 16 days. As camp starts to count down, we continue our “Gators Position Preview” series and look closely at the running backs.

 

RUNNING BACKS 

Welcome back: Montrell Johnson Jr. (5-11.25, 216, Sr.), Treyaun Webb (5-11, 211, So.), Ja’Kobi Jackson (5-10.5, 209, R-Jr.), Cam Carroll (6-0, 230, R-Sr.), Anthony Rubio (5-9, 183, R-Fr.),  

Hello: Jadan Baugh (6-0.75, 227, Fr.), KD Daniels (5-11.5, 197, Fr.)

Goodbye: Trevor Etienne (transfer/Georgia), Eddie Battle (eligibility expired), Carlson Joseph (transfer portal)

 

OVERVIEW

Florida’s rushing attack suffered a drop-off in Napier’s second season, a multi-faceted decline that had more to do with the offensive line and quarterback position than the tandem of Johnson and Etienne. After combining for 1,560 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in 2022, Johnson and Etienne totaled 1,570 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023. As you can see, they are very similar numbers. Still, the Gators slipped from…