DELAND ― On and off the field, incoming Florida football freshmen receivers Vernell Brown III and Naeshaun Montgomery are developing a bond.
Brown and Montgomery helped lead Team Unstoppable to a 31-19 win over Team Icon during Thursday’s Under Armour All-American game at Stetson’s Spec Martin Stadium. Brown finished with three catches for 58 yards, while Montgomery had two catches for 15 yards and a TD, plus a catch for a two-point conversion.
Shortly after the game ended, Brown and Montgomery conducted postgame interviews together and flashed a few Gator chomps. Often, the duo also stood together side-by-side on the sidelines when the offense was off the field.
“Now, we’re gonna take the party to The Swamp,” Brown said.
Brown, the son of former Florida Gators receiver/defensive back Vernell Brown Jr., is enrolled early for the spring semester and will arrive on UF’s campus this weekend.
“I’m ready for it,” Brown said, “That’s what I’ve worked for all along, I’m excited to finally be in it.”
That includes potentially contributing on special teams. Brown returned a combined four punts and kickoffs for touchdowns during his junior season at Jones High in Orlando. With UF wide receiver Chimere Dike out of eligibility, there’s an opening at the punt return spot for UF in 2025.
“It’s definitely in the plans,” Brown said.
Montgomery celebrated his TD catch in the second quarter with a back flip that got a rise from the crowd.
“Seven-on-seven, that’s where it started,” Montgomery said. “I didn’t get to do the front flip today, though.”
The 6-foot-1, 165-pound Montgomery also is enrolling in the spring and said his goal is to get stronger to prepare for SEC play. After transferring from Cardinal Newman High to Miami Central, Montgomery committed to UF over the summer.
“Ever since (Brown) committed, he was really trying to create the duo,” Montgomery said. “And when I committed, we knew we were going to take over The Swamp. Just coming out here, working together, that’s how we’re gonna do it.”
Both Brown and Montgomery will get a chance to develop chemistry with rising sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway, who went 6-1 as a starter for UF and stretched the defense with the deep ball during his freshman season. Three of Lagway’s 12 TD passes went for 40 yards or more.
“Shoot, I’m really excited,” Montgomery said. “Just the way he plays, he can throw the ball, he can run the ball, you never know what he’s going to do. So he’s just going to get us the ball and we’re gonna dominate.”
UF’s 2025 class was further boosted with the addition of five-star wide receiver Dallas Wilson of Tampa Bay Tech, who signed with the Gators last week after being released from his financial agreement with Oregon. Wilson was named an Under Armour All-American but chose not to compete in the game.
The additions of Wilson, Montgomery and Brown give Florida three potential playmaking threats for 2025 and beyond.
“WRU,” Brown said. “That’s where you want to be. Three guys, three highly talented guys. We want to be the trio of college football.”
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1
