Florida WR Vernell Brown III makes wild Odell Beckham Jr.-esque 1-handed catch as Gators smack LIU

It’s only Week 1, but Florida’s Vernell Brown III might already have the catch of the year.

Late in the second quarter Saturday against LIU Brooklyn, the freshman wide receiver launched himself into the air for a wild, one-handed grab. Gators quarterback DJ Lagway threw the ball to Brown, who stretched to make the 41-yard catch and get Florida in the red zone.

Brown’s grab was reminiscent of Odell Beckham Jr.’s notorious one-handed touchdown catch from 2014 — one of the most iconic catches of all time.

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Though Brown’s one-hander wasn’t in the end zone, his efforts gave Florida another chance to score: Three plays later, Lagway threw to receiver J. Michael Sturdivant for a touchdown.

Brown, who went to high school in Gainesville, Florida, stuck with his hometown team for college. The five-star receiver is the sixth-best receiver in the Class of 2025, per Rivals, and the 30th player overall.

As expected, Florida smacked LIU: Sturdivant’s touchdown gave the Gators a 38-0 lead before halftime. Brown had a solid showing in that half, putting up 79 yards on three receptions.