Wide receiver Vernell Brown III became just the third freshman in Florida program history to start a season opener when the Gators took on Long Island University on Saturday, joining Antonio Callaway (2015) and Percy Harvin (2006) on the short list.
“It wasn’t a very complicated decision based off what I watch every day,” head coach Billy Napier said on starting Brown III. “I think he’s a great competitor. He’s obviously skilled, but I think more importantly, he’s got a certain maturity level and you could see tonight it’s not too big for him. He’s comfortable in that setting, right? So he’s a play-maker. He’s been doing that very consistent, very dependable, know what you’re going to get.”
That wasn’t the only thing historic about Brown III’s debut, however. The 5’11, 178-pound receiver caught three passes for 79 yards, marking the most ever by a Gator freshman in his first career start.
All three of Brown III’s receptions went for a for a first down while two went for 24+ yards. The speedy receiver generated 22 yards after the catch, a majority of which came on a screen pass early in the game.
“It’s nothing surprising,” Florida quarterback DJ Lagway said on Brown III’s debut. “He’s been doing it all fall camp, all spring ball, so I’m just excited for him to step on the stage he did what he was going to do. I already knew he was going to do that. He’s a baller.”
Junior receiver Eugene Wilson III, who started alongside Brown III in week one, shares a similar sentiment.
“We were kind of expecting that because throughout the whole spring and the whole camp, he’s been doing it every day,” Wilson III said on Brown III. “Him going out there and doing what he do, we’ve been seeing it. We were just waiting for him to have his moment to go out there and put it on tape.”
The highlight of Florida’s 55-0 win over Long Island was Brown III’s ridiculous one-handed catch in the second quarter. After taking off on a post route, Brown III back pedaled down the sideline before fully extending to haul in the pass from DJ Lagway. The clip went viral on social media and is easily a candidate for 2025 catch of the year.
“That was incredible,” linebacker Myles Graham said on the catch. “I can’t say I’m surprised. He’s a great, hard-working, confident kid and I can’t say I’m surprised at all. I feel like he’s going to keep building off that, keep getting catches like that, keep making great plays. I feel like he’s a great player.”
“That will be the first of many like that, if I was betting,” Napier said postgame.
Not only was Florida’s staff comfortable enough to start a freshman at wide receiver, but Brown III was also the Gators’ starting punt returner, a role that comes with a lot of responsibility.
Brown III’s first two punt returns both went for 20+ yards, displaying elite decision making and acceleration after the catch. The important thing to remember here; a great athlete doesn’t always make a great punt returner. We know Brown III has skills with the ball in his hands, but there’s a level of decisiveness, confidence, and comfortability needed for the role. That’s where I was most impressed. There was no east to west movement after the catch, he made one confident cut and took the yards in front of him.
“He’s pretty decisive. He a ball player, play maker. You know he’s going to go out there, like I said, he’s a hooper, go out there and make plays,” Wilson III said on Brown as a punt returner. “Every time he touch the ball I’m thinking it’s hitting the crib. Especially after the first couple of steps, he’s got that gear for real. Every time I’m ready for that thing to go through the goal line.”
The wide receiver rotation will be interesting to watch when Dallas Wilson and Aidan Mizell return to action, but if Saturday night was any indication, Brown III will be on the field a ton in 2025.