With Trevor Etienne gone, can Montrell Johnson Jr carry the load for Florida football running game?

Florida football has generated a consistent ground game in each of its first two seasons under head coach Billy Napier.

But the Florida Gators will head into its first season under Napier without explosive playmaking running back Trevor Etienne, who transferred to rival Georgia during the offseason.

Even without Etienne, Florida projects to have a deep stable of running backs in 2024, led by senior Montrell Johnson Jr., who has rushed for 1,658 yards and 15 TDs in first two years at UF. Johnson has been projected as a preseason All-SEC first or second team running back in numerous polls and publications.

"He split the backfield for three years," Florida running backs coach Jabar Juluke said. "Just think if he was getting more carries, what he'd do. So, I'm excited about what he's going to be able to do as a leader. Montrell is the ultimate pro, right? He works hard, he practices the right way. He's being a leader; he's been a mentor. He's given the young men a great example of what it's supposed to look like."

Last season, Florida finished eighth in the SEC in rushing, averaging 149.8 yards per game on 4.3 yards per carry.

Here's a look at UF's running backs going into the 2024 season:

Florida football RB starter

Johnson is back for his third season at a starter at UF after rushing for a team-high 817 yards on 5.2 yards per carry and 5 TD in 2023. The 5-foot-11, 213-pound Johnson, who carried the ball 152 times in 12 games last season, could be in line for even more usage with the departure of Etienne.

"I expect to get the ball more coming into the future this next season," Johnson said. "I'm not too worried about it, because I feel like I can hold the load on my own and just going out there and making sure I play mistake-free football."

Johnson also wants to improve as a receiver for UF in 2024. He finished last season with 30 catches for 246 yards and 1 TD.

" I just want to catch more balls out of the backfield and just get in space more and show my ability to make the first defender miss," Johnson said.

Florida football RB depth

Rising sophomore Treyaun Webb showed promise as a true freshman last season. The 5-11, 210-pound Webb rushed for 163 yards and 2 TDs on 6.3 yards per carry last season, including a long of 43 yards on a carry against Vanderbilt.

JUCO transfer Ja'Kobi Jackson, after not carrying the ball last season, performed well in UF's spring game, rushing for 60 yards on five carries, with a long of 32 yards.

Cam Carroll, a transfer from Tulane, has been slow to recover from a torn ACL last season and may or may not be ready for the start of the fall. Carroll did not take part in spring drills.

Florida football RB future

True freshman running back Jadan Baugh displayed surprising speed and shiftiness in UF's spring game, rushing for 77 yards on 6.4 yards per carry,

According to teammates, rhe 6-1, 237-pound Baugh has carried that confidence over to summer workouts.

"He's been shocking me every single day the way he preps, coming to work every day, and the way he attacks," Johnson said. "Him being a freshman is kind of surprising to me."

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: With Trevor Etienne gone, can Montrell Johnson Jr carry the load for Florida football running game?