Ohio State Checks all of the Boxes for Florida Speedster Vernell Brown

ORLANDO — Ohio State and wide receivers coach Brian Hartline continue to lock in on their top recruiting targets and Orlando (Fla.) Jones star Vernell Brown is certainly one of them. The speedy receiver has shot up rankings lists this spring with a dominant camp and 7-on-7 season.

Hartline was back at Jones High on Monday to check on Brown and watch his spring practice, and so were we as we caught up with the talented prospect on our Southern Swing recruiting tour.

The relationship Brown has with Hartline continues to be a driving factor in this recruitment for the Buckeyes.

“I have a really good relationship with coach Hartline, I think we connect really well with each other,” Brown explained. “We both see things the same, similar perspectives, so it’s a really great relationship.”

Brown was most recently in Columbus at the end of March and got to take in Ohio State’s Student Appreciation Day practice.

“I would say the biggest thing was the atmosphere,” Brown recalled. “It was a really great atmosphere. I know people always talk about the fanbase and how crazy it is but, the student appreciation day, just seeing the students walk in with all of the signs, I definitely enjoyed it.”

So what keeps Ohio State so heavily in the mix for Brown? It’s hard to pinpoint just one thing.

“They check all of the boxes,” he said. “The system, the school, just everything else. They check all of the boxes so I think that’s definitely what keeps them in the race.”

Ultimately Brown’s decision appears to be coming down to staying in Florida or heading to Ohio State. The Buckeyes are a geographical outlier on Brown’s list, but he says not to read too much into that, the distance angle won’t be a major factor in his choice.

“At the end of the day, it wouldn’t be that big of a decision,” he explained. “It’s only a two-hour flight (to Columbus). The only difference is that you’re flying instead of driving, so it doesn’t really make that big of a difference.”

Hear more from Brown including his thoughts on the Buckeyes, official visit schedule, and timeline for a decision in our one-on-one with the speedy receiver from our Southern Swing.