#8

Vernell Brown III

WR · Florida · Fr. · #8

Returning to Florida for 2026
Fr. · Gainesville, Fla. → Jones
via floridagators.com ↗
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Vernell Brown III

WR · Florida · Fr · #8

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★★★
#30 national
CFB
College
Florida
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Florida4-8HC: Billy Napier · Balanced

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Florida4052413.10--
Career4052413.10--
SeasonTeam
2025Florida114122140--
Career114122140--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 6 · 2025

W 29–21

vs Texas

14 rush yds (1 car)

How he plays

Play style

Moves the chains on third down.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Florida

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Wide receiver · Florida

Returning around him

  • 55% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
  • 7 Florida players drafted to NFL
  • Transfer portal: -9 net (27 in / 36 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Florida · Last season: 4-8 (AP #13) · Talent rank #12 · 2026 recruiting class #17

DNA match

Player DNA

Possession Receiver

Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.

WR

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Marcel Williams’s 2025 season.

Akron · 2025

#2

Christian Forde

Mississippi State · 2021

77%
#3

Isaiah Sategna

Arkansas · 2024

73%
#4

Jaelen Gill

Boston College · 2022

72%
#5

Isaiah Bond

Alabama · 2023

71%

Matches Marcel on

Yards / reception
Reception volume
Total EPA (college ability)

Differs from Marcel on

TD rate (lower)

Through 1 college season, his career arc tracks closest to Jacob Harris’s path through UCF.

Jacob Harris

100%match

UCF · 2020

#2

Lujuan Winningham

Central Arkansas · 2021

99%
#3

Jalen Kelsey

Campbell · 2022

97%
#4

Isaiah Hamilton

Washington State · 2023

94%
#5
93%

Matches Jacob on

Yards per reception

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Marcel Williams's freshman season at Akron (2025).

Akron · 2025

#2

Dakorien Moore

Oregon · 2025

73%
#3

Malcolm Simmons

Auburn · 2024

68%
#4

Tyler Brown

Clemson · 2023

67%
#5

Christian Forde

Mississippi State · 2021

66%

Matches Marcel on

Yards / reception
Weight
Total EPA (college ability)

Differs from Marcel on

TD rate (lower)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #1495

Final rank
#2062
Avg #1830.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #1495 this season.

Background

Pronunciation SEASON & CAREER Stats (PDF) HONORS & AWARDS 2025 Freshman All-SEC Honors The Athletic's Midseason All-Freshman Team On3 2025 Midseason True Freshman All-American Team ACADEMIC HONORS SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll (2025) 2025: Started in six games, while playing in 10, at wide receive...

via floridagators.com ↗