Elite WR Vernell Brown III commits to Florida: ‘I’m ready to be the leader of this thing’

Orlando (Fla.) Jones four-star wide receiver Vernell Brown III grew up wanting to play for Florida. The Gators legacy closely followed Florida’s games and eventually, became one of their top targets in the 2025 recruiting class.

Florida, Florida State, Miami and Ohio State all led for Brown III’s commitment at one point. The 5-foot-10.5, 173-pound wideout felt that the Gators were the right program for him following his official visit and made that decision public on Sunday with his pledge to head coach Billy Napier and his staff. 

“The program on the field is great and off the field, I can set myself up for life there,” Brown III told On3. “The outside factor that the other schools couldn’t match was me being from Gainesville and growing up around there and then, having an opportunity to build on my family’s legacy while creating my own path as well.” 

Every time Brown III was on Florida’s campus, it didn’t feel like a visit. Instead, he sensed a “home feeling” at the place where his father and grandfather played college football. 

The No. 4 player in Florida wants to write his own story while playing for Florida. Yet the chance to represent his family name with the Gators is also very important to him.

“It brings that extra pride on gameday,” said Brown III, the No. 33 overall prospect and No. 6 wide receiver in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. “Representing their legacy is going to be really good, but ultimately, I want to be better than my dad and granddad and what they did. I want to be the best Brown to ever come through Florida.” 

Brown III believes in the future of Florida football

Brown III grew close with Napier throughout his recruitment. He also bonded with wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales. 

“It’s a really good staff and I love the staff,” Brown III said. “Coach Billy Napier has done a really good job of trying to make Florida better overall and not just in football. It’s more than football to him. They’re going to get it right on the field this year and there are other things that he was working on that made the overall experience better. 

“With coach Gonzales, his ability to develop players has been proven with first round draft picks who are similar to me. It’s obvious how good his coaching is because Florida just had a receiver drafted in the first round this year.” 

The four-star is now the highest-ranked player in the Gators’ 2025 recruiting class. He plans to to be “the face of the class” going forward.  

“I want to be the one that recruits guys and brings them with me because I know as good of a player as I am, I can’t do it by myself,” Brown III said. “I have no problem being the face of the class and recruiting others and I’m definitely going to be doing that. I’m ready to be the leader of this thing.”

Florida finished last season with a 5-7 record. Yet Brown III is excited about the future in The Swamp. 

“This year will definitely signify the growth and development that they’re having,” Brown III said. “They signed a really good class in the 2024 cycle. Having those guys and having DJ Lagway as a quarterback is great. I can’t wait to get a look at him this year.”