Jones center Corey Brown signs with Gators during Early Signing Period

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Jones High center Corey Brown signed with Florida on Wednesday, the first day of the Early National Signing Period, but becoming a Florida Gator wasn’t much of a new thing for the Tigers’ three-year starter.

Corey was born a Gator, raised as a Gator, always been a Gator. His grandfather played at UF, his father played at UF and his brother currently plays at UF. The only difference is that all of their names are Vernell Brown I, II and III.

“It’s a lifestyle. It’s not a fan thing. It’s how we live,” Corey Brown said. “We’re Gators, through and through.”

Brown was one of six Jones players to sign National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, as seniors across the country inked scholarship papers. The Early Signing Period runs through Friday. Quarterback Dereon Coleman signed with Miami, receiver Larry Miles to Nebraska, offensive lineman Xavier Payne to Colorado, receiver DJ Hicks to Alabama State, Jakahari Leonard to Tuskegee.

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Only one other Central Florida player sign with UF besides Brown in Windermere cornerback CJ Bronaugh,

Across Central Florida, there were not a lot of surprises on the day, with the exception of a few players who ended up not signing after having scholarships pulled in the last few weeks. Two of those players were receiver Eshawn Sutton of Winter Park, whose Syracuse scholarship was no longer on the table, and receiver Isaiah Pina of South Lake, who’s situation is up in the air after a coaching change at Virginia Tech. Both did not sign.

Edgewater quarterback Carter Emanuel also did not sign. Emanuel, who had been committed to UConn until Monday, when he decommitted after coach Jim Mora left to take the same position at Colorado State, is expected to sign with Colorado State on Friday.

Brown said he started talking to the Gators’ coaching staff under Billy Napier about six months ago. Despite Napier’s firing, Brown was guaranteed his scholarship offer would remain valid by UF athletic department officials. He said he has not spoken with new UF coach Jon Sumrall.

“I kinda started talking to them during the summer and everything got solidified a few weeks ago,” Brown said. “It feels great .. an amazing feeling.”

Being a legacy scholarship player might carry with it a bit of a stigma, as people assume his scholarship came thanks to his brother already being on the team. He’s not a household name in the recruiting circles. The 6-foot, 310-pound Brown quietly did his part at Jones the past three seasons, while the Tigers went 35-7.

“It doesn’t bother me at all. I worked hard and I want to show people that I have more than enough ability to play at that level,” Brown said. “And to play by [Vernell’s] side once again, something we’ve done all our lives, makes me feel great.

“We have a great bond. Obviously we grew up together. We shared a room for most of our lives and we’ve been very tight.”

Notre Dame got signatures from two of the bigger names among the Central Florida signees, as Lake Mary quarterback Noah Grubbs and Winter Park safety Ayden Pouncey, the No. 1-ranked player in the Sentinel’s Central Florida Super60, will join the Irish.

Miami had the most players sign among those signing Wednesday, as four players inked letters of intent. Besides Jones QB Coleman, Edgewater linebacker JJ Edwards, Lake Nona defensive end DeAnthony Lafayette and Boone offensive lineman Rhys Woodward of Boone will also be Hurricanes.

The First Academy will have the most players sign letters of intent, but the school will no hold its ceremony until Thursday. TFA will have 10 players signing with nine of them headed to FBS programs.

TFA corner Danny Odem will join Miles at Nebraska. Defensive end Alex Willis will join Osceola defensive tackle Amier Clark at Georgia Tech. Defensive end Kingston Shaw will join Bishop Moore’s Kenyon Alston at Illinois.

Edgewater has two player who are headed to Appalachian State in linebacker Michael McClenton and offensive lineman Ben Jones.

The only local FSU signee is linebacker Izayia Williams of Tavares. The only local UCF signee is defensive back Ja’Cari Jackson of Olympia.

Chris Hays can be found on X.com@OS_ChrisHays 

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