Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 66-21vs Florida Atlantic | 6 | 117 | 19.5 | 1 | 49 | Season-high 117 yds |
| Wk 2 | W 52-3vs Campbell | 3 | 43 | 14.3 | 1 | 24 | |
| Total | 9 | 160 | 16.9 | 2 | 49 |
#1
Vernell Brown III
Sophomore wide receiver for Florida. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
5′11″ · 178 lb · Gainesville, FL · Jones
CFB Index 49 · #236 of 485 WRsHigh confidenceReturning to Florida for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
160
receiving yards · 2026
9 catches · 2 TD · 17.8 per catch
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 6 rec, 117 yds, 1 TD, vs Florida Atlantic
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 wide receiver for Florida. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 5-star recruit to Florida in 2025.
Buzz vs Tape
Fans warmer than rivals
His own fans are far more bullish than the rival fanbase.
34.8own fans
0rival fans
Florida Gators wide receiver trio could become the nation’s best, but who truly deserves the WR1 crown for 2026? Eric Singleton Jr. leads the conversation, boasting NFL-caliber skills and the most consistent production despite a…
Vernell Brown III
Moves the chains on third down. Two seasons at Florida, two different head coaches: Billy Napier and Jon Sumrall. The receipt on tape: 117 rec yds, 14 rush yds against Florida Atlantic, Week 1, 2026.
160 REC YDS · 9 REC · 2 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
The week the volume broke through — put up 95 yds vs Mississippi State.Mississippi State · W 23-212025
202510 games
- Signed with Florida5-star out of Jones
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★★
CFB
College
Florida
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2025–2026
2 coaches2025
Florida
2026era →
Jon Sumrall
Florida
Coaching transition mid-career: Billy Napier → Jon Sumrall. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2025Florida4-8HC: Billy Napier · Balanced
2026Florida2-0HC: Jon Sumrall · Run-leaning
Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort
Box-score percentiles
High confidence
Elite: yards / catch (88th percentile). Strength: rush yards (83rd percentile). Concern: receptions (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (7)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 4.5 REC/g, 80.0 YDS/g, 16.9 YPR, 1.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Jon Sumrall
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-SEC
Based on 2025: #33 of 58 SEC WRs
How the All-SEC estimate is computed
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 52–3
vs Campbell
Signature plays
Signature plays · top plays by |EPA|
The plays that mattered most
- Week 1 · Florida Atlantic · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA +3.76(08:49) No Huddle-Shotgun #12 A.Philo pass complete short right to #1 V.Brown III caught at FAU50, for 49 yards to the FAU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 08:41, 1ST DOWN #91 P.Durkin kick attempt good (H: #38 A.Clark, LS: #54 L.Anderson)
- Week 2 · Campbell · 1&10 · Q2 · EPA +2.55(03:38) No Huddle-Shotgun #12 A.Philo pass complete short middle to #1 V.Brown III caught at CU18, for 14 yards to the CU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 03:30, 1ST DOWN #91 P.Durkin kick attempt good (H: #38 A.Clark, LS: #54 L.Anderson)
- Week 1 · Florida Atlantic · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA +2.02(07:20) No Huddle-Shotgun #12 A.Philo pass complete deep right to #1 V.Brown III caught at FAU33, for 33 yards to the FAU27 (#0 D.Allen), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Florida Atlantic · 3&11 · Q3 · EPA +1.56(05:11) No Huddle-Shotgun #12 A.Philo pass complete short middle to #1 V.Brown III caught at FAU13, for 18 yards to the FAU10 (#22 J.Sweeney), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Florida Atlantic · 2&4 · Q1 · EPA +1.21(04:21) No Huddle-Shotgun #1 V.Brown III rush left for 14 yards gain to the FAU41 (#4 D.McGhee), out of bounds, 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Florida Atlantic · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA +0.87(10:50) No Huddle-Shotgun #12 A.Philo pass complete short right to #1 V.Brown III caught at FLA18, for 8 yards to the FLA31 (#22 J.Sweeney)
- Week 2 · Campbell · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA +0.62(03:04) No Huddle-Shotgun #12 A.Philo pass complete short left to #1 V.Brown III caught at CU44, for 24 yards to the CU16 (#16 M.Gilliam), out of bounds, 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Florida Atlantic · 1&10 · Q2 · EPA -0.13(04:53) No Huddle-Shotgun #12 A.Philo pass complete short right to #1 V.Brown III caught at FAU45, for 4 yards to the FAU43 (#4 D.McGhee), out of bounds
- Week 1 · Florida Atlantic · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA +0.09(04:02) No Huddle-Shotgun #12 A.Philo pass complete short right to #1 V.Brown III caught at FAU43, for 5 yards to the FAU36 (#27 T.Jackson)
- Week 2 · Campbell · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA +0.09(05:10) Shotgun #12 A.Philo pass complete short right to #1 V.Brown III caught at FLA15, for 5 yards to the FLA25 (#7 A.Benton)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Florida
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Wide receiver · Florida
Returning around him
- 69% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
- 7 Florida players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -9 net (27 in / 36 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Florida · Last season: 4-8 (AP #13) · Talent rank #10 · 2026 recruiting class #17
DNA match
Player DNA
Possession Receiver
Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.
WR
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Marcel Williams’s 2025 season.
80%match
All-MAC
Matches Marcel on
Yards / reception
Reception volume
Total EPA (college ability)
Differs from Marcel on
TD rate (lower)
Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Jacob Harris’s path through UCF.
100%match
#2
Lujuan Winningham
99%
#3
Jalen Kelsey
97%
Matches Jacob on
Yards per reception
As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Marcel Williams's freshman season at Akron (2025).
83%match
All-MAC
Matches Marcel on
Yards / reception
Weight
Total EPA (college ability)
Differs from Marcel on
TD rate (lower)
Player DNA
Players who play like Vernell Brown III
Heisman trajectory
Heisman Trajectory · 2026
Peak #116
Peaked at #116 this season.
Background
Pronunciation SEASON & CAREER Stats (PDF) Feature Clips HONORS & AWARDS Third-Team Preseason Coaches All-SEC Return Specialist (2026) Paul Hornung Award Watch List (2026) Third-Team Preseason All-SEC Return Specialist (2026) 2025 Freshman All-SEC Honors The Athletic's Midseason All-Freshman Team...
The receiver room · Florida
- #2Eric Singleton Jr.534 receiving yards · 2025
- #1Vernell Brown III524 receiving yards · 2025
- #5Micah Mays Jr.302 receiving yards · 2025
- #3Bailey Stockton233 receiving yards · 2025
- #4Tawaski Abrams202 receiving yards · 2025
13 more on the roster · Florida team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology