Class of 2025 athlete Vernell Brown III got to take in Tennessee football and the Vols’ Saturday scrimmage. He was extended a scholarship offer from Tennessee at the end of February.
Listed as an athlete, Brown will likely play receiver at Tennessee.
“I enjoyed it,” Brown told Off The Hook. “I got a chance to see the offense itself and the tempo. That tempo is crazy, to be there in person and see it is crazy.”
Projecting as a receiver, Brown got to catch up with wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope.
“He’s a good guy,” Brown said of Pope. “We talked a little bit about football but it was more a personal conversation. He’s a really good guy, I like him.”
The 5-foot-11.5, 170-pound receiver runs an up-tempo at Wildwood (Fla.) High School. Even before his visit, Tennessee football caught Brown’s eye because of the offense they run in Josh Heupel’s scheme.
“Who wouldn’t want to play in an offense like that?” Brown said. “They’re definitely up there because of that offense. You see firsthand what it can do for you if you ball out, like you can see with Jalin Hyatt.”
After taking his first look at Tennessee, Brown plans to visit campus again during the summer or for a game in the fall. During his visit, Brown got to watch the Vols’ first spring scrimmage in Neyland Stadium.
“What they have planned is really nice, it is unlike anything I have ever seen,” Brown said. “The stadium is a big stadium. I know it gets very hostile, I like it.”
Tennessee’s indoor facility also impressed the 2025 prospect.
“I like it, it’s different than anything I’ve ever seen,” Brown said. “If you look at the way their indoor is set up and the stuff around it, I have never seen anything like it… That’s a good thing.”
Brown called his favorite part of the day getting to get a feel for the campus and the the coaches interacting with him. He also got to meet Ramel Keyton and get Keyton’s thoughts on Tennessee.
“People in the recruiting department tell you stuff, but if you ask people that are actually experiencing it they tell you the real of it,” Brown said. “Everything aligned with what the recruiter was telling me. I’m a big relationships guy so I like to know all the ins and outs and talk to people about it and stuff.
“Basically how the offense gives you room to ball as a player and how really one good year in the offense can really boost your stock and get you to the league. Then, we talked about off-the-field stuff like time management.”
After his visit, it’s safe to say Tennessee football made a great impression on Brown.
“They’re definitely towards the top,” Brown said. “Definitely.”
