GAINESVILLE — Florida Gators receiver Vernell Brown III hardly ever loses sight of the soccer, or the massive image.
The 18-year-old’s focus, athleticism, ball abilities and management as a real freshman, have positioned him to make an instantaneous affect that includes highlight-reel catches and grown-man maturity.
“Being a teen there’s a variety of stuff that doesn’t actually matter within the larger scheme which you could get misplaced in,” he mentioned Monday. “However I’ve at all times cherished the method greater than the end result. Simply loving the method, I don’t really feel like I’ve missed out on something, or I used to be ever lacking out on something as a result of I used to be doing precisely what I needed to do.”
Brown is now doing what he loves the place he at all times needed to be.
Rising up in Gainesville the son of former Gator Vernell Brown Jr., a cornerback and workforce captain for City Meyer’s inaugural workforce in 2005, Vernell Brown III had Gators mattress sheets and a room dedicated to the orange and blue.
“I at all times needed to play for the Gators,” he mentioned.
Whereas following within the footsteps of father and grandfather, Vernell Sr., a Gator from 1982-85, Brown goals to determine his personal legacy.
“I nonetheless should make a reputation for myself,” he mentioned.
The participant also referred to as “VBIII” has wasted little time because the top-rated member of UF’s seventh-rated 2025 recruiting class following two standout seasons at Orlando Jones, the place he was Florida Dairy Farmers Class 4A participant of the 12 months in 2024 and an Beneath Armour All-American.
Final spring, fellow receiver Aidan Mizell praised Brown’s “professional mentality.”
Throughout fall camp, coach Billy Napier mentioned, “not a day goes by the place I’m not impressed with among the issues that he does.”
Redshirt sophomore Bryce Lovett famous Brown “got here in making an attempt to be a pacesetter on the workforce, simply having a voice and talking up.”
When Week 1 arrived, Brown continued his trajectory.
A backpedaling one-handed stab whereas falling down for a 41-yard acquire towards Lengthy Island College was named the highest play on ESPN SportsCenter’s High 10. Throughout final week’s win towards Texas, the 5-foot-11 ¼, 178-pound Brown outmaneuvered a Longhorns’ defender within the air, then saved his ft for one more 10 yards to finish a 60-yard reception — the sport’s longest play from scrimmage.
Two of probably the most spectacular catches wherever this season grew to become Web catnip, however the star of the present didn’t tune in for lengthy.
“I watch them a number of occasions, however not that a lot,” Brown mentioned. “I really feel like that’s what I’m presupposed to do.”
Brown’s confidence is well-earned, whereas his star flip has been lengthy anticipated.
“It’s actually no shock to me,” his father instructed The Orlando Sentinel on Tuesday. “You could have a variety of actually good athletes, however his consideration to element, his perception, his maturity — because it pertains to issues exterior of the sport — is why it doesn’t shock me how he’s in a position to maximize his God-given potential.”
Brown started to play soccer at age 5 in Gainesville. As a sixth-grader residing in The Villages, Wildwood Center Faculty coaches elevated the 12-year-old to varsity following simply three video games on JV.
After his household moved to Orlando after his sophomore 12 months, Brown stepped right into a starring position at Jones, the place he recorded 164 receptions for two,871 yards and scored 25 touchdowns in two seasons.
But earlier than he arrived at Jones, Brown was a greater defensive again than go catcher. Even now, his father is for certain his son could be equally efficient on the opposite facet of the ball.
“He’s simply nearly as good, if not a greater defensive again than he’s a receiver, simply due to his instincts of the sport and his potential to go monitor the ball and never panic when the ball is within the air,” Vernell Brown Jr. mentioned. “However he needed to play receiver.”
The reason being easy: “I really like having the ball in my palms,” Vernell Brown III mentioned.
Brown’s abilities as a punt returner are additionally particular. Having 5 returns of 20 yards or longer, together with a 40-yarder towards USF, brought about Texas to punt away from him all day.
“Due to what I’ve finished in my first few weeks, (Brown Jr.) instructed me the alternatives are going to be restricted,” he mentioned. “I simply keep affected person. Once they give me one other one, I’m gonna make them pay.”
Brown ready his complete life for these moments.
The Gators are benefitting from his single-minded dedication in a world stuffed with distraction.
“He’s at all times type of ran his personal race,” his father mentioned. “He would exit each from time to time. He frolicked, however he was at all times a man that type of marched his personal drum. Not feeling such as you wanted to be part of the gang that at all times bodes wells for teenagers as they enter the teenage years.
“Quite a lot of time they get caught up in making an attempt to be cool, and sadly at these ages the issues which can be cool aren’t really cool.”
Blessed with cool nickname, a SportsCenter shout-out and a starring position as a first-year participant, VBIII has his personal concepts the way to spend his down time — and NIL cash.
In the course of the Gators’ bye week, he attended Orlando Jones’ win towards Auburndale to current a verify for $7,250 to purchase new shoulder pads for the workforce.
Be it massive performs or a giant coronary heart, Brown is simply starting to make his mark.
“There’ll be much more of that kind of stuff happening all through the years, as a result of that’s what he’s into,” his father mentioned. “He’s into giving again and ensuring that the children behind him have each alternative to maximise in each method.”
Edgar Thompson may be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com