Brown III Named SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week
Monday, September 14, 2026 | Football
Vernell Brown III returned consecutive punts for touchdowns in Florida’s 52-3 win over Campbell
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Vernell Brown III has been named SEC co-special teams player of the week, the league office announced Monday. This comes after Brown III returned 4 punts for 173 yards and two touchdowns while putting up a career high 216 all-purpose yards.
In the second quarter, Brown III returned back-to-back punts for TDs of 64 and 70 yards, joining WR Jacquez Green (Sept. 28, 1996 vs. Kentucky, third quarter, 66 and 79 yards) as the lone players in program history to return two punts for TDs in one game (both on back-back punts).
Brown III's 173 punt return yards broke Brandon James' program record of 155 punt return yards in a game, which he set in 2007 vs Western Carolina, and his two return touchdowns tied the program record for punt return TDs in a season.
In addition to the 173 punt return yards and two touchdowns, Brown III also caught three passes for 43 yards and one touchdown, becoming the first UF wide receiver with three TDs in a single game since 2020
Through Week 2, Brown III leads UF in receptions (9), receiving yards (160) and receiving TDs (2), having caught TDs in back-to-back games to begin 2026 after being held without a TD in 10 games during his 2025 rookie season. Brown has four total TDs (two rushing, two punt returns) in two games, and is one of four FBS players with two punt return TDs in 2026.
2026 Single-Game Tickets
Single-game tickets are on sale for the 2026 Florida Football season under first-year head coach Jon Sumrall. Fans can purchase single-game tickets for home contests against Campbell (Sept. 12), Ole Miss (Sept. 26), South Carolina (Oct. 10), Oklahoma (Nov. 7), and Vanderbilt (Nov. 21). Fans can also purchase tickets for the game against Georgia in Atlanta on Oct. 31.
2026 Mini Plans
Build a custom mini plan to lock in the games that best fit your schedule. Two-Game and Three-Game Packs are on sale now.
In the second quarter, Brown III returned back-to-back punts for TDs of 64 and 70 yards, joining WR Jacquez Green (Sept. 28, 1996 vs. Kentucky, third quarter, 66 and 79 yards) as the lone players in program history to return two punts for TDs in one game (both on back-back punts).
Brown III's 173 punt return yards broke Brandon James' program record of 155 punt return yards in a game, which he set in 2007 vs Western Carolina, and his two return touchdowns tied the program record for punt return TDs in a season.
In addition to the 173 punt return yards and two touchdowns, Brown III also caught three passes for 43 yards and one touchdown, becoming the first UF wide receiver with three TDs in a single game since 2020
Through Week 2, Brown III leads UF in receptions (9), receiving yards (160) and receiving TDs (2), having caught TDs in back-to-back games to begin 2026 after being held without a TD in 10 games during his 2025 rookie season. Brown has four total TDs (two rushing, two punt returns) in two games, and is one of four FBS players with two punt return TDs in 2026.
2026 Single-Game Tickets
Single-game tickets are on sale for the 2026 Florida Football season under first-year head coach Jon Sumrall. Fans can purchase single-game tickets for home contests against Campbell (Sept. 12), Ole Miss (Sept. 26), South Carolina (Oct. 10), Oklahoma (Nov. 7), and Vanderbilt (Nov. 21). Fans can also purchase tickets for the game against Georgia in Atlanta on Oct. 31.
2026 Mini Plans
Build a custom mini plan to lock in the games that best fit your schedule. Two-Game and Three-Game Packs are on sale now.
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