Gainesville, FL.– Campbell punted to Florida’s dynamic playmaker Vernell Brown III twice early in the second quarter Saturday night. Both times, he ended up in the end zone.
Brown scored three touchdowns in the quarter, including two consecutive punt returns, as Florida pulled away for a 52-3 win at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Earlier this afternoon, the explosive VB3 was named as the SEC’s Special Teams Player of the Week.
His first return came 22 seconds into the second quarter. Brown fielded the punt at Florida’s 36-yard line, escaped several Campbell defenders and followed his blockers down the sideline for a 64-yard touchdown.
Asked afterward about the missed tackles, Brown smiled.
“I almost don’t count,” he said.
Brown credited the return unit, especially Bailey Stockton, who handled the final defender near the sideline.
“Especially Bailey Stockton at the end holding up the punter, getting a two-for-one,” Brown said. “I’m grateful for those guys and appreciate them blocking for me.”
Campbell punted to Brown again less than four minutes later. He caught the ball at Florida’s 30-yard line, found the return wall and went untouched for a 70-yard touchdown.
The two scores made Brown the first Florida player since Jacquez Green in 1996 to return two punts for touchdowns in one game. Florida’s official box score credited him with 134 punt-return yards.
“Just reading the blocks, seeing the field, trusting my guys,” Brown said of the second return. “I knew where the wall was going to be at. Just following the plan and executing.”
Brown said much of what he does as a returner comes from instinct. He isn’t deciding on a move before it happens. He’s reacting to the coverage and running toward whatever space opens.
“I’ve been playing the game since I was five,” Brown said. “Obviously, the stadiums and the level have changed, but the game doesn’t change. It’s the same stuff I’ve been doing since I was five.”
Brown added his third touchdown with 3:30 left in the first half, catching a 14-yard pass from quarterback Aaron Philo. The score gave Florida a 38-3 lead and completed Brown’s three-touchdown quarter.
It was also another strong outing for Philo, who Brown said has quickly earned the trust of Florida’s locker room.
“He’s commanding the offense. He’s doing his job,” Brown said. “I appreciate him for giving me and the other guys opportunities, putting it in our hands.”
Brown didn’t reach the end zone during his freshman season despite contributing as a receiver and returner. He said Saturday’s performance came from resetting his focus and taking advantage of the chances Florida’s new coaching staff gave him.
“Anytime I get the ball in my hands, I think go score,” Brown said. “If I get tackled, I get tackled.”
Brown became the first Florida wide receiver since Kadarius Toney to score three touchdowns in a game. Toney was one of Brown’s favorite Gators growing up, particularly during the period when Brown’s father worked at Florida.
“Electric,” Brown said when asked what he remembered about Toney. “He was my favorite player when he was here. He’s one of the players whose highlights I still watch to this day. Great player, great company to be in.”
The night also gave Brown another entry in a Florida family history that includes his father and grandfather. But after Saturday, he has a record that belongs to him.
“To be able to be in the record book and have something to look back on, hopefully one of the many things to look back on, and say, ‘Yeah, I did that,’” Brown said. “For me to continue the legacy while setting a new standard, hopefully for the ones that come behind me, is a blessing.”
Florida improved to 2-0 with the win. Brown left Campbell with a much simpler problem to consider.
“At the end of the day, they punt the ball,” Brown said. “You’re either going to catch and return it or you’re going to fair catch it. If you return it, you go for the end zone.”
