Syracuse Football: 4-star priority recruit eyes visit, has largest rankings jump nationally

When Rivals.com, this week, updated its 2025 national rankings of the top-250 high school players, a Syracuse football priority recruit experienced the largest leap across the entire country.

That four-star target is talented wide receiver and return man Vernell Brown III from Florida. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Brown, not too long ago, revealed a top 11 that includes the Orange, along with Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Louisville, Miami, Ohio State, Stanford, Tennessee and UCF.

In the Rivals.com refreshed 2025 national rankings, Brown's climb was incredible. He jumped from No. 216 nationwide to No. 58 overall, good for an improvement of a whopping 158 spots.

This recruiting service also has Brown as the No. 36 athlete and the No. 35 player coming out of the Sunshine State.

Syracuse football four-star recruit Vernell Brown III has soared in the 2025 national ratings.

Brown has proven a highly coveted prospect in the junior cycle, amassing more than 40 scholarship offers throughout his recruiting process. The new 'Cuse coaching staff, led by head coach Fran Brown, offered a scholarship to Vernell Brown III in late January of this year.

In a recent piece, 247Sports director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong spoke with Brown's dad, who said that his son “feels like the top priority” for numerous of his finalists, including Syracuse football.

Wiltfong wrote that Brown and his family are getting a spring visit “on the books for Syracuse" along with numerous other suitors. National recruiting analysts have noted that Brown is in regular communication with Orange coaches, who visited his high school in January.

Brown is a standout junior at Jones High School in Orlando, Fla. In the 2023 season, he generated 1,404 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns through the air, as well as 16 total scores and more than 2,000 all-purpose yards.

Also in recent days, On3 published its latest 2025 national rankings. Here, Brown arrived as No. 111 overall, No. 15 at wide receiver and No. 13 in Florida. Over at 247Sports, he ranks as the No. 10 athlete around the country within the 2025 class.

In discussing Brown's massive jump via Rivals.com, national analyst Adam Friedman wrote in part, "Brown has big-time potential on both sides of the ball. He has very good hands and is a sudden route runner when he lines up as a receiver. Brown isn’t a burner but has plenty of speed in the open field. He is an explosive and quick prospect who creates separation from defensive backs thanks to his sharp cuts and ability to accelerate to top speed in just a couple steps. ... Brown’s length, mature frame, hands and ability to bring down jump balls are just some of the factors that make him an attractive defensive back prospect too."