Spring practice is set to get underway for the Gators, and with that, Florida released updated weight measurements for their roster. Several Florida players will also be wearing new jersey numbers for the 2026 campaign.
Vernell Brown III is among the players switching things up for the new season, and Gator fans are hoping his new number is a blessing rather than a curse.
Vernell Brown III changes number ahead of 2026 season
Among the notable number changes for the 2026 season, Brown is set to wear No. 1, switching from the No. 8 we wore during the 2025 campaign. After the jersey number had significance for a number of years, the Gators didn’t have anyone wear the number last season.
On the offensive side of the ball, recent players wearing No. 1 have panned out fairly well. Montrell Johnson wore the number in 2024 and averaged 5.9 yards per carry. He was also hurt for a three-game stretch during that season. Ricky Pearsall wore No. 1 in 2022 and 2023 and parlayed that into being a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
It’s been more so the defensive side of the ball where the number has not been a good omen in recent years. Bryce Thornton is going to have the honor of wearing No. 1 in 2026, and he hopes to break the trend from his predecessors:
- 2024 - Justus Boone wore the number after coming back from an ACL tear. Boone was quickly cycled out of the rotation after the Miami game, and he transferred after the season.
- 2023 - Princely Umanmielen had a good year with seven sacks, but he wound up transferring to Ole Miss after the year.
- 2022 - Brenton Cox Jr. didn’t even make it to the end of the year as he was removed from the team prior to the end of the season.
Gator fans will get their first official chance to see Brown wearing No. 1 at the Orange and Blue Game, slated to take place on April 11 in The Swamp.