Five-star wide receiver Vernell Brown III, one of the biggest risers on the recruiting trail in the 2025 cycle and the fifth-ranked player in the Sunshine State, committed to Florida on Sunday.
It was a huge win for the Gators, who had only nine commitments and the No. 68 class nationally in the 247Sports Composite heading into the day.
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Brown, who plays at Jones High School in Orlando, is ranked No. 25 overall and the No. 6 wide receiver in the class. He chose the Gators over Ohio State, Miami and Florida State.
Brown’s father, Vernell Jr., a Gainesville native, played cornerback for Steve Spurrier and Ron Zook from 2001-05 and was Florida’s senior director of player development for Dan Mullen and current coach Billy Napier through the end of the 2022 season.
Brown joins four-star edge rusher Jalen Wiggins of Tallahassee (Fla.) Rickards as the second top-100 prospect in Florida’s 2025 class. The Gators have commitments from three other in-state blue-chip recruits — receiver Joshua Moore, running back Waltez Clark and tight end Tae’shaun Gelsey.
The five in-state recruits are among Florida’s six blue-chippers in the class, which moved up six spots to No. 62 with Brown’s pledge.
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(Photo of Bily Napier: Jeff Blake / USA Today)
