TAMPA, Fla. – When the Gators travel to Auburn for a September 19 primetime engagement, it will mark the first meeting between the teams since 2019 at the Swamp. Vernell Brown III remembers it well.
“Those were some fun times watching games like the Auburn game when Lamical Perine had that touchdown,” he said, referring to the running back’s 88-yard fourth-quarter gallop that accounted for the final points in Florida’s 24-13 win over the Tigers in a top-10 matchup. “They were really exciting moments and I think that showed what the Swamp is and what it can mean.”
The Swamp means a lot to the Gators’ sophomore receiver, who met with the media Wednesday morning as part of SEC Media Days at the Marriott Water Street. Brown’s father (Vernell Brown, Jr.), grandfather (Vernell Brown, Sr.) and uncle (Vincent Brown) all played at UF. His cousin (Vincent Jr.) is a redshirt junior defensive back who joined the Gators last season as a preferred walk-on after two seasons at Lakeland-based Southeastern University.
With a family timeline that commenced in 1982 with Vernell Sr. and includes Uncle Vincent winning a national title in 2008, it is easy to understand why Brown remained a Gator after Jon Sumrall arrived from Tulane. Not that Brown was 100 percent committed at first.
After all, he took a little time to look out for his interests following a freshman season in which he caught 40 passes and averaged nearly 79 all-purpose yards – Brown averaged 12.6 yards on 11 punt returns — in 10 games under Billy Napier and interim coach Billy Gonzales. The latter, currently an analyst on Steve Sarkisian’s staff at Texas, oversaw the receivers and has known Brown for many years.
“I had to do my due diligence after the coaching change,” he said. “It was more of a waiting game. I wasn’t like I was leaving Florida or I was staying at Florida. It was like, ‘Okay, let’s wait and see. Let’s not make any emotional decisions or rush decisions.’”
The decision was easy after meeting Sumrall, who led the Green Wave to the College Football Playoff last season.
“After I got to meet coach Sumrall and some of the staff, I bought in,” said Brown, who is listed at 5-foot-11 and 177 pounds. “I was completely locked in.”
As a result, a family of football history at UF stretching more than four decades continues to churn.
“I looked at it the same way I did throughout the recruitment process,” said Brown, who coming out of Orlando’s Jones High was ranked by 247Sports as the state’s No. 3 prospect. “Obviously, I felt Florida was ultimately the best option for me. I also understand that maybe just because it was the best option for my family members, it might not be the best option for me. That was all part of the due diligence process.”
Brown, whose father served on the staff of Dan Mullen and Napier, including as senior director of student-athlete development and alumni relations under Napier, stayed put. As such, he will continue to sing Tom Petty’s 1989 hit ‘I won’t back down’ along with 88,000 of his closest friends at the conclusion of the third quarter at the Swamp.
“I know the song word for word,” he said, smiling. “It just means everything. Just everything about the Swamp, the Florida Gator brand, Florida Gator football and the University of Florida in general. It means everything.”
READ: Byrum Brown “Grateful” For His Time At USF
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
