If it is ever possible for a five-star WR to fly under the radar, Vernell Brown III has been doing that since his arrival in Gainesville. It's not that Brown is having a poor camp or is in danger of being a bust; it's more a case of the spotlight has been shining bright on fellow freshman wide receiver Dallas Wilson.
But Brown was a five-star for a reason, and during Florida's scrimmage on Saturday, he had a moment where he channeled his inner Bray Wyatt and went "Gainesville, we're here."
Vernell Brown III has a long touchdown in scrimmage
After the spring game and the monster day that Wilson had, Brown has almost been an afterthought from a public perception standpoint. One of the reasons why Brown has flown a bit more under the radar as well is that Florida has a bit more of a jogjam at slot receiver, whereas Wilson fills an immediate need along the outside.
That doesn't mean it is wise to sleep on Brown and forget about him.
The scrimmage on Saturday was closed off to the public as well as the media, so any reports that have emerged from the scrimmage are all second-hand accounts of what happened.
But on social media, the Gators did send out one clip, and it featured Brown hauling in a deep shot from Aidan Warner for a touchdown.
There goes that man 💨 @VB3_9 | #GoGators pic.twitter.com/o991kWbzlA
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) August 9, 2025
Brown is the son of former Gator DB Vernell Brown Jr., and shot up the star rankings during his senior year. When we first profiled Brown III back in February of 2024, while he was still a fringe four-star, we called him a human joystick and noted at the time:
"Brown is a four-star athlete out of Jones High School in Orlando. Listed at 5'11" and 175 pounds, he is a consensus four-star from all the services, with Rivals grading him the highest at 216th overall.
If it was up to us, we would grade him as a top 150 prospect because he is a nightmare to guard on film.
His burst off the line is immediate and his speed to get behind secondaries causes consistent problems for opponents. When in space, opponents have zero hope of tackling him and every time he touches the ball is a chance for six points."
Given the inability of Florida's wide receivers to stay healthy this fall camp, there have been some increased opportunities for Brown, and we wouldn't be shocked if he winds up getting some meaningful snaps before the season is over in 2025.