Four-star wide receiver Vernell Brown III commits to Florida over Ohio State
COLUMBUS — Ohio State rarely swings and misses at wide receiver on the recruiting trail, but when it happens, it has to be written about.
Four-star Orlando (Fla) Jones wide receiver Vernell Brown III committed to Florida moments ago, picking the Gators over Ohio State, Florida State and Miami. Brown is the No. 33 overall prospect and the No. 6 wide receiver in the On3 Industry Rankings. On3 has Brown as the No. 36 overall prospect but still the No. 6 wide receiver.
The Buckeyes have hosted Brown multiple times throughout his recruitment including an official visit the first weekend of June. He is a member of the South Florida Express 7v7 team with alumni Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss and Jeremiah Smith on the Buckeyes’ roster.
Ohio State still has more wide receivers on the board highlighted by four-star Mission Viejo (Calif) Phillip Bell.
The Buckeyes have three wide receivers committed to their second-ranked 2025 class: Quincy Porter, De’Zie Jones and Bodpegn Miller.
Five-star Bellefontaine (Ohio) quarterback Tavien St. Clair, four-star Cleveland (Ohio) Villa Angela St Joseph running back Bo Jackson, three-star Philadelphia (Pa) St. Joseph’s Prep running back Isaiah West, four-star Toledo (Ohio) Whitmer offensive tackle Carter Lowe, three-star Westerville (Ohio) North interior offensive lineman Jake Cook, four-star Washington (Okla) tight end Nate Roberts and four-star Cleveland (Ohio) Gilmour Academy tight end Brody Lennon round out the offensive class for Ohio State.
Four-star McKinney (Texas) linebacker Riley Pettijohn, four-star Port St. Lucie (Fla) Vero Beach linebacker Tarvos Alford and three-star Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban linebacker Eli Lee.
Edge rushers Zion Grady, Zahir Mathis and London Merritt. Defensive tackles Trajen Odom, Maxwell Roy and Jarquez Carter round out the front seven.
Five-star Plus+ cornerback duo Na’eem Offord and Devin Sanchez, four-star safety Faheem Delane, four-star safety DeShawn Stewart and three-star safety Cody Haddad are the secondary.
Ohio State is still in pursuit of at least one more wide receiver for its 2025 class. Don’t expect the Buckeyes to let up on Brown, however.
