4-star WR Vernell Brown III announces top 11 schools

Wildwood (Fla.) Jones four-star wide receiver Vernell Brown III holds offers from 42 schools. He is now ready to cut down that list greatly. 

Brown III has announced Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Louisville, Miami, Ohio State, Stanford, Syracuse, Tennessee and UCF as his finalists. The 5-foot-10.5, 165-pound wideout has visited each of his finalists, except for Louisville, Syracuse and Stanford. 

“It came down to a mixture of things,” Brown III told On3 about his top 11 schools. “What has them high on my list is the way they recruit me, the things they do on the field, how each school develops players at my position and the history of each school. These schools also show the most love and have made it clear that I am a priority. I am still open to other schools, but if they aren’t on this list, they have some catching up to do.” 

According to Brown III, he communicates with coaches from his finalists at least a couple times a week. Head coaches from every one of his top programs except for Clemson and Tennessee visited his high school in January. 

At the moment, Brown III is still figuring out his spring trips and where he will take official visits. The No. 39 player in Florida plans to take his officials in the summer and then see if he is ready to commit, which may happen before his senior season or early during it. 

“It will come down to the people in the building, the development on and off the field, what the day-to-day life looks like at that place and where I am most comfortable when I make my decision,” said Brown III, the No. 287 overall prospect and No. 41 wide receiver in the 2025 On300. “The overall experience will ultimately help me choose the school because I have to live there seven days a week.” 

Brown III previously discussed five of his finalists with On3

Alabama: “It is a new staff, but the Washington coaches have a strong offense and Alabama is still a top program”

Florida: “Billy G(onzales) does a great job of developing receivers. He’s an older guy, so his track record goes back further.”

Florida State: “The interest they have in me is strong. Them expressing how much they want to coach me and how much they’re willing to believe in me and my future stands out.” 

Miami: “The biggest thing with them is the love they’ve shown. They’re consistently showing me that I’m a top priority for them.” 

Ohio State: “They produce receivers. That is what Ohio State is about.”