Gators RB Baugh apologizes to Sumrall for performance in loss

Florida running back Jadan Baugh sent coach Jon Sumrall a text message Sunday, a day after the Gators’ stunning 45-17 loss at Missouri.

Baugh’s promise: “I’m sorry, coach. I won’t let that happen again. I didn’t play my best.”

Baugh was considered an early Heisman Trophy contender after running for 600 yards with 11 touchdowns during the Gators’ 4-0 start. Against Missouri, however, Baugh was held to 13 yards on 12 attempts. He gained 12 yards on his first carry of the game and had only one yard on 11 carries the rest of the way.

“I think sometimes at the running back position, he’s created a lot of runs at times on his own,” Sumrall said Monday. “Sometimes, the offensive line has done great. Sometimes, perimeter blocking has been great. Sometimes, he’s made plays that weren’t even there. We didn’t do enough to help him as a team on Saturday in my opinion, and I don’t think he was his best either.

“I love Jadan because he owned it and he’s ready to move forward.”

The No. 16 Gators will try to bounce back before Saturday’s home game against South Carolina.

“I don’t like losing,” Sumrall said. “I actually hate losing more than I like winning. There’s a lot to learn from every scenario you go through. And when you lose a game, I think it forces everybody to take more direct accountability to what we’re doing. … Right now, our guys, they’re hurt. They’re crushed. I mean, everybody that works here is hurt. Doesn’t feel good. Don’t like it.”

Baugh wasn’t the only Florida player searching for answers after the Gators were blitzed by the Tigers, who had lost their previous nine games to ranked opponents.

Florida’s running game, which gained 302 yards in a 52-28 upset of then-No. 4 Ole Miss on Sept. 26, managed only 42 yards on 25 attempts against Missouri. Sumrall said it was the “most exposed” Florida’s offensive line has looked this season.

Florida’s defense surrendered 560 yards, including 220 rushing. Tigers quarterback Austin Simmons threw for 340 yards on 23-for-30 passing with two touchdowns.

Missouri gained 235 yards on four plays — two passes and two runs.

“We can’t give those up,” Sumrall said. “You have to make people earn it.”

The Gators rank last in the SEC in passing defense (266.6 yards) and 13th in scoring defense (27.2 points) through five games.

Sumrall said safety Bryce Thornton, who was a game-time scratch at Missouri because of a soft tissue injury, might be available against South Carolina.

Despite a torrid start that allowed the Gators to climb to No. 8 in the AP poll, Sumrall said his team remains a work in progress.

“The guys that have come before us have set the standard really high when you go back and look at maybe the teams and the players that have come through here,” Sumrall said. “So, we want to get to that standard. We’re not there yet. I know people after the first four weeks wanted to act like we were really good. We have a long way to go to maybe establish where we want this program to get back to.”