ICYMI : Five-star WR confirms commits to Gators

The Florida Gators hit a grand slam in their 2025 recruiting class with the commitment of five-star wide receiver  from Orlando, FL, on Sunday. Brown’s commitment instantly makes him the top prospect in Florida’s growing class for next season.

Standing at 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, Brown is ranked as the No. 25 player in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite. He chose Florida over powerhouse programs like Ohio State, Florida State, and Miami. While he is currently rated as a four-star prospect (No. 36 overall) on 247Sports’ internal rankings, his stock is expected to rise during his senior season.

If his name sounds familiar, it’s because he comes from a line of Gators legends. Brown is the grandson of former Gators star Vernell Brown Sr. and the son of former Florida cornerback Vernell Brown Jr., who played 45 games for the program from 2001-05 and was once called the “Face of Florida Football” by former head coach Urban Meyer.

Vernell Brown Jr. returned to Florida as a staff member in 2018 and currently serves as the senior director of player development and alumni relations, a role he earned after Billy Napier was hired as head coach.

The younger Brown is an elite talent known for his top-tier athleticism and game-breaking speed, similar to current sophomore wide receiver Eugene Wilson III. He is expected to make an immediate impact as a true freshman in 2025.

Brown was Florida’s highest-rated target, and while his commitment is a major win for the Gators, there are still five months until the early National Signing Day. Many prospects are waiting to see how Florida performs on the field before making their final decisions.

Brown’s commitment boosted the Gators six spots to No. 62 in the 247Sports Composite team rankings. The low ranking is primarily due to Florida having only 10 commitments so far, which is at least two but up to 12 fewer than every team ahead of them in the recruiting cycle.