ATHENS - Georgia football coach Kirby Smart knows when he’s missed out on a good thing.

And he knows that he missed out on exceptional Florida running back Jadan Baugh , who went to school at Columbia High School just outside of Atlanta.

“I remember Jaden well,” Smart said Wednesday. “I have a great relationship with him, his dad and his family. He came as a 9th grader to camp and was playing safety. Everyone was raving about this 9th-grade safety. I just remember this big, physical - for a 9th grader I thought: ‘Golly, what is this guy going to be?’”

As it turns out Baugh would be one of the most physical running backs in SEC - a real challenge for Smart, the Bulldogs and the rest of the league. In 2026 alone Baugh has 763 yards on 135 carries with 13 touchdowns.

Smart said Baugh was in Athens consistently for football recruiting camps at Georgia.

Florida RB Jadan Baugh gestures after scoring a touchdown against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.…