Orlando (Fla.) Jones high school four-star receiver Vernell Brown III is closing in on a commitment. However, he’s not quite there yet. The class of 2025 prospect recently trimmed his list of 40+ offers down to 11, which included Ohio State, Florida, Alabama, Florida State, Tennessee, Miami, Stanford, Clemson, Louisville, UCF and Syracuse.
“These 11 schools have done a great job showing me that I am a priority to them,” said Brown to 247Sports. “They have been thorough with their approach to get to know me and my family. Three of the things that are most important to me in this process are the people inside of the building at the schools, my relationship with them, and their plan for my development to help me accomplish my goal of playing on Sundays. Each of these 11 schools has done a great job of showing me how their program, staff, and University would benefit me.”
On Friday, the 5-11, 170-pounder shared his spring unofficial visit schedule. He’ll see the majority of those schools.
On March 4, he’ll be at Syracuse. On March 13, he heads to UCF. On March 14, Brown will be at Georgia. On March 19, he’s at Ohio State. On March 23, he makes his way to Florida State. On March 30, he is at Florida. On Apr. 6, he wraps things up at Miami.
After that, he’ll take his official visits and move one step closer to a commitment.
As a junior, Brown caught 70 passes for 1,363 yards and 10 touchdowns. In addition, he scored four times on special teams.
247Sports Scouting Report from Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins: Dynamic athlete with elite short-area quickness and explosive movement patterns. Has impacted the game in all three phases at the prep level and impressed at times as a defensive back, but ceiling appears to be highest as a slot receiver that can generate chunk plays with his run-after-catch capabilities. Eats on in-breaking routes as he creates separation by sinking his hips and then quickly driving towards soft spots in coverage. Likely never going to have a high success rate in true contested-catch situations given size, but plucks the football with confidence and doesn’t exactly shy away from contact. Projects as a potential game-breaker on Saturdays based on what he put on tape as a junior and the type of offensive weapon that playcallers can get creative with (screens, jet sweeps) given how he can make defenders miss both in tight quarters and the open field. Will add plenty of value as a return man.
