Most of the Florida Gators’ commits were in town on Saturday to watch the team kick off the 2024 football season against Miami.
Receiver commit Vernell Brown III (5-11, 170, Orlando, FL. Jones) was in town and while the game didn’t go Florida’s way, he hopes to see things improve.
“I think everybody sees that we have a lot of improving to do,” Brown said on Saturday’s game. “There was no question that we needed to improve, it’s just the first game so I’m not really too hard on it. Just hopefully look to see improvement as the season progresses.”
One thing that caught Brown’s attention as a positive was freshman quarterback DJ Lagway who was forced into action after Graham Mertz went down.
“DJ Lagway, him coming into play in the fourth quarter,” he said on the positives he seen from the game. “He made some mistakes but it’s the first game, people expected that but the future is bright for him. That’s definitely a bright spot.”
The staff has told Brown that they want to get him the ball like they do Eugene Tre Wilson and the Florida commit was happy to see him involved in the gameplan.
“I think it’s good to see, in the times they needed it, they got the playmakers the ball,” Brown said on seeing them get Tre Wilson the ball. “I love to see that and I hope they can continue to do that in the future.”
Receivers coach Billy Gonzales talked to Brown on Saturday and explained to him that they need to improve on Saturday’s performance.
“I talked to Coach Billy G,” he said on the coaches he talked to. “He said they have a lot of improvements to do and it’s just the first game. I’m still confident in the University of Florida and confident that they will turn it around.”
Brown has been solid with the Gators since committing and he says he trust the program and believes things will improve.
“I think it all comes down to trust,” Brown said on why he has that confidence. “Trusting that the staff and these players will put in the work and figure things out.”
Brown was asked whether or not the chatter about Billy Napier’s future is on his mind and the receiver explained that after game one wasn’t the time to be thinking about that.
“I think that topic and that conversation will be a little bit more relevant as the season progresses,” he said when asked if the Napier hot seat rumors are on his mind. “Midseason you will see where the lay of the land is and how things are going to figure out.”