Florida football landed a commitment from one of the top wide receivers in the country.
And he's got a familiar name, to boot.
Vernell Brown III announced his pledge to the Florida Gators on Sunday, adding another pass-catching threat to UF's growing 2025 class.
Brown's father played wide receiver and defensive back at Florida from 2001-05 and was dubbed "the face of Florida football" by former UF coach Urban Meyer for his leadership intangibles. His grandfather, Vernell Brown Sr., led Gainesville High to a state championship in 1980 as a running back and quarterback with the Hurricanes before going to play at UF in the 1980s.
Per 247 Sports composite, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Brown is rated as a five-star, the 25th best player and sixth-best wide receiver in the country. At Jones High in Orlando last season, Brown caught 70 passes for 1,363 yards and 10 TD while returning four kicks (three punts and a kickoff) for TDs.
"He's a difference maker," in-state recruiting analyst Larry Bluestein said. "He's an elite kid, one of the top kids in the nation. Gives Florida with Josh Moore two major, major difference makers on offense. Playmaker with speed, extends plays, does everything you want."
Bluestein said Brown is capable of making plays in the SEC despite his size, comparing him to former Alabama wide receiver Devonta Smith, who was 6-0 and 170 pounds won a Heisman Trophy with the Crimson Tide.
"He just has that intangible that he makes plays," Bluestein said.
Here's a look at UF's commitments for the 2025 class:
Florida football 2025 commitments
Jalen Wiggins
Position: Edge rusher
Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 255
School/Hometown: Rickards HS/Tallahassee
Rating: Four-star (per 247 Sports)
The Skinny: Coming off a 2023 HS season that included 31 tackles for loss, 37 QB hurries, 16 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Waltez Clark
Position: RB/WR
Height/Weight: 6-1, 194
School/Hometown: Plant HS/Tampa
Rating: Four-star (per 247 Sports)
The Skinny: Rushed for 476 yards and 15 TD on 77 carries (6.2 yards per carry) while also catching 22 passes for 358 yards and 4 TD in the 2023 season.
Jeramiah McCloud
Position: DL
Height/Weight: 6-3, 280
School/Hometown: Gadsden County HS/Havana
Rating: Three-star (per 247 Sports)
The Skinny: Finished 2023 season with 55 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 12 sacks to help Gadsden County go 6-5 and make the Florida 2S playoffs.
Micah Jones
Position: TE
Height/Weight: 6-5, 245
School/Hometown: Madison Central HS/Madison, Miss.
Rating: Three-star (per 247 Sports)
The Skinny: Finished 2023 season with 168 receiving yards and 1 TD. Per 247Sports composite, Jones is the No. 28 overall tight end and the No. 15 recruit in Mississippi for the Class of 2025.
Chad Gasper
Position: RB
Height/Weight: 5-10, 200
School/Hometown: Katy Jordan HS/Fulshear, Texas
Rating: Three-star (per 247 Sports)
The Skinny: Rushed for 300 yards and 2 TDs in nine high school games in 2023, while adding 8 catches for 127 yards.
Hayden Craig
Position: P
Height/Weight: 6-2, 190
School/Hometown: Bridgton Academy/Bridgton, Maine
Rating: Three-star (per 247 Sports)
The Skinny: A lefty combo kicker/punter, Craig is the fifth-rated punter in the counter per 247Sports. At the 2024 Kohl's Eastern Showcase Camp for punters and kickers in May, Craig's best punt went for 46 yards, with a hang time of 4.31 seconds.
Joshua Moore
Position: WR
Height/Weight: 6-4, 205
School/Hometown: West Broward HS/Pembroke Pines
Rating: Three-star (per 247 Sports)
The Skinny: Moore finished the 2023 season with 50 catches for 835 yards and 9 TD, helping lead West Broward to the 4M playoffs. Chose UF over offers from Miami, Florida State, Arkansas and Auburn.
Tae'Shaun Gelsey
Position: TE
Height/Weight: 6-4, 215
School/Hometown: Riverside HS/Jacksonville
Rating: Three-star (per 247 Sports)
The Skinny: Gelsey caught 48 passes for 859 yards and 9 TDs for Jacksonville Riverside High this past season. Per 247Sports.com composite, he's ranked as the 72nd best high school player in Florida.
Myles Johnson
Position: LB
Height/Weight: 6-1, 220
School/Hometown: T.R. Miller HS/Brewton, Ala.
Rating: Three-star (per 247 Sports composite)
The Skinny: Athletic two-way standout who also plays running back, plays basketball and runs track at T.R. Miller High School. Ran at 11.15 seconds as a junior in the 100 meters.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Breaking down Florida football's recruiting class: Gators land commit from legacy WR Vernell Brown III
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