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4-star WR Vernell Brown III sets commitment date

On3 imageby:Keith Niebuhr•07/09/24•

On3Keith

Vernell Brown III
Vernell Brown III (Keith Niebuhr/On3)

One of the Florida Gators’ top recruiting targets in the 2025 class has set his announcement date. Four-star receiver Vernell Brown III of Orlando (Fla.) Jones said Tuesday he will reveal his commitment 2 p.m. ET July 21 with On3’s Josh Newberg.

Florida, Florida State, Miami and Ohio State are the main factors in his recruitment. The Gators are the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine favorites.

Brown is the No. 6 receiver and No. 33 overall player nationally for the On3 Industry Rankings. At this time, he is just one spot away from being a 5-star. Brown established himself as one of the country’s top receivers last season by posting these eye-catching statistics: 70 catches, 1,363 yards, 10 touchdowns.

Several of Vernell Brown III‘s family members played for the Gators

Meanwhile, Brown’s links to the Florida program are well-documented. Here’s a refresher:

-Brown’s father, Vernell Brown Jr., played cornerback for Florida from 2001-05 and appeared in 45 games. He once was dubbed the “face of Florida Football” by former Gators coach Urban Meyer.

–Vernell Sr. played multiple positions for the Gators in the 1980s. He primarily was known for his play at defensive back.

-Two other family members also played for Florida, including his great-uncle, Johnell Brown. Johnell Brown was Florida’s leading rusher in 1979.

Earlier this year, Vernell Brown III told Gators Online that Florida had treated him as a regular recruit and not as a legacy. And he noted, that was something he preferred.

“People thinking and maybe in some cases the school thinking you’re a shoe-in because of who came before you. I think my process is my process and has nothing to do with their process,” he said. “And every school should be evaluated equally. … (The Gators) don’t mention it at all.”

Brown officially visited the Gators, ‘Noles, ‘Canes and Buckeyes in June. One highlight of his visit in Gainesville was spending time around Florida receivers coach Billy Gonzales, a person he has known much of his life.

“We sat down and he showed me a presentation of what his plan for me is, so that was big,” Brown said. “People talk about it all the time, but it was good for him to actually show it. They have some big plans. They don’t really compare me to a specific player. Obviously, there are similar play styles with Kadarius Toney, Percy Harbin, Trey Wilson.”

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