5-star WR Vernell Brown III chooses Florida over Ohio State, FSU and Miami

The Florida Gators picked up a much-needed win on Sunday.

Wide receiver Vernell Brown III, considered a five-star prospect and the 25th overall player and sixth wide receiver in the class of 2025 according to the 247Sports composite rankings, chose the Gators over Ohio State, Florida State and Miami, according to Manny Navarro of The Athletic.

There were family ties when it came to Florida, as Brown’s father, Vernell Jr., played cornerback for the Gators and previously served as the program’s senior director of player development.

“Everybody supported the decision, but they would support me everywhere I went,” Brown said, according to Rivals’ John Garcia Jr. “With their ties to the university, I would assume it would have been a little different for them.

“But this was my process and it had nothing to do with what they did before. Ultimately, I’m going to Florida because I wanted to go there. It was extremely difficult to choose one, but it’s a relief. You choose one and you go with it.”

That’s good news for Florida, which is ranked No. 62 in 247Sports’ rankings for the 2025 recruiting cycle.

That ranking puts them between Louisville and Illinois, and those aren’t exactly the types of programs the Gators will have to revolve around if they want to challenge teams like Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Texas in the loaded SEC.

Perhaps Brown’s efforts will give them an impetus to recruit further, as there is still plenty of time before the final batch is made.

He’s also someone talented enough to get on the field right away with game-changing speed and the ability to thrive in the slot. If he can capitalize on that potential and overall talent, this will be a critical recruiting win for Florida for years to come.