Wide receiver Vernell Brown III and edge rusher Jayden Woods combined for four Freshman All-SEC honors in recognition of their standout performances during the 2025 season.
Brown III earned three honors across special teams and offense while Woods secured the Gators’ only SEC recognition on defense.
Florida now holds a league-leading 115 Freshman All-SEC selections, including 14 since 2022.
WR Vernell Brown III
Earning Freshman All-SEC honors at wide receiver, all-purpose, and return specialist, Brown III became the first freshman in Gators program history and one of only five players in the SEC to claim three honors in the same season. The last to do it was Kentucky’s Barion Brown in 2022.
Across 10 appearances including six starts, Brown III led Florida in receptions (40) and receiving yards (512) while serving as the Gators’ primary kick and punt returner, earning 261 yards combined. After returning 11 punts for 139 yards, Brown III finished the season ranked 11th nationally with a 12.6-yard punt return average.
The speedy 5’11.25, 178-pound receiver ranked fifth in the country among true freshmen and second among true freshmen wide receivers in all-purpose yards with 773 yards.
Brown III’s offensive grade of 67.4 ranked 22nd nationally among true freshman wide receivers, according to Pro Football Focus.
Edge Jayden Woods
Earning Freshman All-SEC Honors at defensive line, Woods appeared in all 12 games including starts vs. Georgia and Florida State.
Woods collected 28 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 5.0 tackles for loss, an interception, one pass break up, two quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. Woods closed out the season co-leading the team with sacks (3.5) and was third on the team in tackles for loss (5.0) and interceptions (1).
The 6’3, 248-pound Kansas native led all Florida defensive lineman in snaps at 448. Woods also led the Gators in total pressures (17) and win rate among Gator defenders with more than 60 pass rushing snaps, according to PFF.
Woods’ defensive grade of 72.0 ranked fourth on the Gators’ defense and sixth among true freshman edge defenders in the country.