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· collected 2026-08-20 · by Mark Long The Associated Press
Florida, coming off four losing seasons in five years, is counting on new coach Jon Sumrall to lead a turnaround. The team has brought in experienced coordinators and returners such as running back Jadan Baugh and receivers Vernell Brown III to serve as the foundation of Sumrall's rebuild. Key losses include defensive tackle Michai Boireau and quarterback DJ Lagway, who transferred out of Florida. Sumrall aims to "wake the beast up" at Florida, a program that has been mediocre in Southeastern Conference play since Tim Tebow left campus after the 2009 season.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The University of Florida football team is entering the 2026 season with high hopes after four losing seasons in five years. The Gators are counting on new coach Jon Sumrall to lead a turnaround, and have brought in experienced coordinators Buster Faulkner (offense) and Brad White (defense). They also expect key returners such as running back Jadan Baugh, linebacker Myles Graham, defensive end Jayden Woods, and receivers Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson to play a crucial role. Sumrall has been tasked with "waking the beast" at Florida, which has a mediocre 70-60 record in Southeastern Conference play since Tim Tebow left campus after the 2009 season, under previous coaches Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain, Dan Mullen, and Billy Napier. Sumrall has led his previous teams, Troy (2022-23) and Tulane (2024-25), to four consecutive conference championship games.
Written for “Florida Football Struggles” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
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No political leaning scored for article 1554 · logged 2026-08-21
The Gators are turning to new coach Jon Sumrall to deliver a much-needed turnaround after four losing seasons in the past five years.
asserted
Gators → turn → years
They are counting on several key returners — most notably standout running back Jadan Baugh, linebacker Myles Graham, defensive end Jayden Woods and receivers Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson — to serve as the foundation of Sumrall’s rebuild.
asserted
They → count → rebuild
Sumrall hired two experienced coordinators, Georgia Tech’s Buster Faulkner on offense and Kentucky’s Brad White on defense, and brought in longtime NFL general manager Dave Caldwell with the goal being to “wake the beast up.”
asserted
goal → hire → beast
“This is a sleeping giant,” Sumrall added.
asserted
Sumrall → sleep → ?
“I’m telling you right now: It ain’t a matter of if we’re going to win here.
asserted
we → tell → you
It’s how fast we’re going to win.
asserted
we → ’ → ?
It’s coming.”
asserted
It → come → ?
Florida is a mediocre 70-60 in Southeastern Conference play since Tim Tebow left campus after the 2009 season, with coaches Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain, Dan Mullen and Billy Napier failing to win a league title.
asserted
Muschamp → leave → title
Sumrall has led his two teams, Troy (2022-23) and Tulane (2024-25), to four consecutive conference championship games.
asserted
Sumrall → lead → games
Strengths include offensive playmakers
Baugh ran for 1,170 yards last season, the third most in the SEC, and scored eight touchdowns.
asserted
Baugh → include → touchdowns
He is expected to be the centerpiece of Faulker’s offense.
asserted
He → expect → offense
But he’s hardly the only playmaker.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
Receivers Brown, Wilson and transfers Eric Singleton Jr. (Auburn) and Micah Mays Jr. (Wake Forest) should provide plenty of options for whoever wins the starting quarterback spot,
Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo or redshirt freshman Tramell Jones Jr. Brown led Florida with 40 receptions for 512 yards in 2025.
asserted
Philo → provide → 2025
Wilson played in just four games because of a nagging foot injury but finished with 12 catches for 174 yards and three TDs.
asserted
Wilson → play → yards
Singleton caught 58 passes for 534 yards and three TDs for the Tigers last season while Mays had 18 receptions for 302 yads and two scores for the Demon Deacons.
asserted
Mays → catch → Deacons
Weaknesses include O-line and secondary depth
asserted
Weaknesses → include → depth
Florida has penciled in three transfers along the offensive line: LT Emeka Ugorji (Stanford), C Harrison Moore (Georgia Tech) and RT TJ Shanahan (Penn State).
asserted
Florida → pencil → line
How quickly and well they mesh with returners Caden Jones and Knijeah Harris could be the key to how effective the Gators run the ball in 2026.
uncertain
Gators → mesh → 2026
On the other side of the ball, the Gators have talent but not a lot of depth in the secondary.
asserted
Gators → have → secondary
Solid starters CB Cormani McClain and SS Bryce Thornton are back, with CBs Ben Hanks III, Dijon Johnson, J’Vari Flowers and transfers Kanye Clark (UCLA), DJ Coleman (Baylor) and Cam Dooley (Kentucky) trying to earn spots.
asserted
III → try → spots
