Four-star WR Vernell Brown III signs with Florida Gators
Four-star recruit Vernell Brown III of Orlando (Fla.) Jones signed with the Florida Gators on Wednesday, which is National Signing Day. Here’s everything you need to know about him.
***FOLLOW OUR SIGNING DAY COVERAGE HERE FOR THE LATEST INTEL***
Position: Receiver
Height/Weight: 5-10.5 /173 pounds
On3 Industry Rankings: No. 45 overall; No. 9 WR; No. 6 in Florida.
Commitment date: 7/21/24
Chose Florida over: FSU, Miami, Ohio State
Time of enrollment: January
Brown says: “The program on the field is great and off the field, I can set myself up for life there. 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.”
Notable: Brown is a Gators legacy. His father, Vernell Brown Jr., played cornerback for Florida from 2001-05 and appeared in 45 games. Vernell Sr., his grandfather, was a defensive back for the Gators in the 1980s. Two other family members also played for Florida, including his great-uncle, Johnell Brown, Florida’s leading rusher in 1979.
Key stats: Over the last two seasons, Brown has 158 catches for 2,727 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Social Media: Twitter (@VB3_9); Instagram (@_vb3_)
What the Gators are getting in Vernell Brown III
Scouting report …
-He’s got a great set of hands: I think that’s probably the thing that stands out the most. Brown is a natural pass catcher who doesn’t fight the ball in any way. Because of that, there’s no wasted movement once the catch is made. His brain and his hands are in sync, so the moment he has possession of the ball, he’s already in the process of making a move. Give him a chance to catch the ball and he probably will.
-He’s quick and athletic: One thing that got my attention was his athleticism. Not sure you can teach some of what he does. He’s just got it. As one college coach told me, “That guy is special.”
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Jackson Arnold
OU QB to enter transfer portal
- 2New
Ben Herbstreit
POTUS sends heartfelt note
- 3
Lincoln Riley
USC coach talks job rumors
- 4Hot
Jahkeem Stewart
USC lands five-star DL
- 5
Mike Gundy status
BOR meeting sparks speculation
-He knows how to get open: Inside the hashes or out, over the middle short or over the middle deep, Brown consistently finds openings in the defense. He not only runs solid routes, but is savvy.
*He blocks: Fans typically don’t care about receiver blocking until one of their players whiffs on a defender. But to coaches it’s a big deal. At 5-foot-10.5, 173 pounds, Brown isn’t big on paper. But he looks larger than that in person because he’s put together well. And, he plays physical. Like it or not, that’s a big part of the game for a receiver. And he’s comfortable getting after it.
-Brown is all about getting the ‘W.’ He’s calm during the 48 minutes of play. He seems to be locked in on every single snap, whether the play is designed to get him the ball or not. If he is open and the throw is off, he doesn’t complain. If the quarterback didn’t see him down field, he isn’t waving his arms. When he makes a big play, he gets up and hustles to the huddle.
