It’s no secret four-star wide receiver Vernell Brown III is a top priority for Ohio State in the 2025 recruiting class.
The top-40 prospect felt as much following his official visit this weekend considering Ryan Day, Brian Hartline and Chip Kelly all put on a full-court press for the Orlando product.
“As far as the visit goes, I really loved everything about it,” Brown told Eleven Warriors Sunday night. “I can say that for both me and my family. OSU has done a great job showing me and my family why they are the program they are and show the way they do things. It’s a really good program and it really opened my eyes on this OV.”
O-H#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/mBqfarx8Ek
— Vernell "Trey" Brown III1 (@VB3_9) June 1, 2024
Brown’s player host was Brandon Inniss, a former Florida high school product himself. On the visit, Brown and Inniss discussed the coaching staff and what it’s like to play for the Buckeyes.
“It was all good things, obviously,” Brown said. “He’s a great guy and he showed me a good time. Really appreciate his hospitality and him taking me under his wing for the weekend.”
Hartline has coveted Brown since the 5-foot-11, 170-pound prospect camped at OSU in June of 2023 and earned an offer from the Buckeyes. Brown visited campus in the fall for a game and attended two spring practices recently, so the interest is certainly mutual.
Brown had an in-depth film review session with Hartline during this weekend’s visit.
“It was really good, I got to watch my film with him, not only the good stuff but the mistakes as well and the things I could improve on,” Brown said. “I think the biggest thing is he’s not just showing me the good, the bad, the ugly, but he’s also showing me the things he does to improve all that. He (said) to be more consistent on different breaks because obviously on my film, he knows that I’m capable of it because he’s seen me do it really well, he just wants to see me consistently do it well and not get lazy.”
Brown also wanted to learn more about Ohio State’s offensive philosophy, which he did during a lengthy conversation with Kelly.
“He got to meet my family and all that good stuff,” Brown said. “We talked about life and I got a few nuggets from him because I wanted to learn a little bit about being an offensive coordinator. I think the biggest thing was understanding personnel and having a plan, honestly. Just showing how if you go too high with a nickel over a slot, because obviously OSU plays with a slot, then you’re asking a nickel to play run support as well. And if you put a linebacker in that spot, then you’re asking a linebacker to cover someone like Emeka Egbuka. So just different things like that.”
Zone6????? @brianhartline @CoachJordan82 pic.twitter.com/O9KNXnVbYs
— Vernell "Trey" Brown III1 (@VB3_9) May 31, 2024
Brown said he had brief conversations with Kelly and Hartline about his potential role in OSU’s offense, but it was Ryan Day who went into full detail about it. Day told Brown he envisions him playing the H receiver position (slot) in Ohio State’s offense. OSU’s head coach also went into detail about the team’s culture and why the Buckeyes believe it’s different in Columbus than anywhere else in the country.
“I think they see me as that slot guy,” Brown said. “That playmaker, big-play guy. However, I’m not just limited to that H position, he said I could play Z as well like Chris Olave did because I’m a vertical threat. I’ve shown that I can play outside, but primarily I’ll play the H position.”
OSU was Brown’s first official visit of the summer. Now, he’ll visit a trio of in-state schools: Miami on June 11-13, Florida on June 14-16 and Florida State on June 21-23.
“I don’t want to say there’s a leader or anything like that,” Brown said. “I know OV’s are supposed to make you feel good about a school. OSU was my first OV so I don’t want to say I have a leader or anything, but it definitely solidified their spot in that top four.”
That said, Brown says OSU moved the needle for him and his family this weekend and the Buckeyes will be in the thick of his recruitment until the end.
“I think it would be that proven total package,” Brown said of the most appealing thing about OSU. “Obviously OSU isn’t the only school that has a good market and can help players on and off the field. But I think when you look at it, the proof is in the pudding. The development on the field at the wide receiver, you can name a lot of guys recently under that Day/Hartline tree that have succeeded. And then being in Columbus, you’ll have opportunities with Ohio State holding the name that it does.”
Brown plans to take his time throughout the recruiting process to ensure he picks the right fit and envisions committing to a school sometime in mid-to-late July. He hopes to finalize a specific date sometime within the next week.
“I think the biggest thing would just be that trust factor,” Brown said of the most important factor to him in his recruiting process. “Not saying that I wouldn’t trust the school I don’t pick, it’s just about who do I feel the most comfortable with about my future? Not only is it a three to four-year decision, it’s a 40-year decision. So who puts me in the best position in the future?”
