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Elite WR Vernell Brown III takes official visit to Florida

hunterby: Hunter Shelton06/15/24HunterShelton_
Vernell-Brown-III-Florida-Gators
NASHVILLE, TN - May 28, 2024 - Day one of the 2024 On3 Elite Series taken in Nashville, TN. Photo By Ian Cox

Orlando Jones four-star wide receiver Vernell Brown III is a coveted legacy recruit for Billy Napier and Florida. That gives the Gators a unique approach in their recruitment of the elite pass-catcher.

UF has Brown on campus this weekend for an official visit — his third OV of the month. The 5-foot-10.5, 173-pounder was at Miami earlier this week after kicking things off with an official at Ohio State on May 31. He’ll round out his June with an OV to Florida State next weekend.

It’s a tight race for Brown — who said last month that two of his four finalists are sitting at the top — but On3 VP of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong said earlier this week that he likes where the Gators currently stand in the race for his pledge. Following the footsteps of his family in Gainesville is an appealing option for the blue-chipper.

“I may give them the edge,” Wiltfong said Thursday during On3’s Wiltong Whiparound show. “Talking to some sources this morning about it, there’s so much love for that family with Florida and his dad and grandfather having attended school there and played there. In the spring, we liked Ohio State. He had a really good official visit to Ohio State as well this summer. But Florida — he’s coming off a Miami visit, Florida State is in there — I think is the program he’s always loved and envisioned himself at. I like the Gators for this young man coming into the weekend.”

At the On3 Elite Series last month, Brown broke down his four finalists with On3’s Chad Simmons. He’s spent plenty of time around The Swamp growing up and knows he could be the next to dawn blue and orange.

“It would definitely be surreal playing in that stadium, growing up seeing it, being from Gainesville,” Brown said. “The way they recruit, obviously they don’t have as much of the selling point at the moment with them not being as good on the football field, but just the way they recruit the type of guys they’re looking for and their plans for the future.”

Brown is the No. 35 overall prospect in the 2025 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He ranks as the nation’s No. 6 wide receiver and No. 5 recruit in Florida.

Gators have ground to make up with 2025 class

The Gators currently have just five commitments in their 2025 class — which ranks No. 54 in the nation and No. 15 in the SEC, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Things will pick up for Napier and Co., though it’s been a slow start to 2024.

Tallahassee (Fla.) James Rickards four-star defensive lineman Jalen Wiggins remains the top committed prospect in the class, as he checks in at No. 88 overall and No. 7 at his position.

Tampa Plant four-star running back Waltez Clark is the longest-running commit in the fold for Napier and Co. He opted to pledge in September and is just outside the top 250 in the On3 Industry Ranking overall. On May 10, the Gators added a second RB to the mix in the form of Fulshear (Texas) Katy Jordan three-star Chad Gasper.

Gasper became the second commitment for UF last month, following Havana (Fla.) Gadsden County three-star DL Jeramiah McCloud, a former Mississippi State pledge who chose the Gators on May 2. North Bridgeton (Me.) three-star punter Hayden Craig rounds out the class, as of June 15.