Ole Miss Football Intensifies Pursuit of Five-Star WR Committed to Texas

Easton Royal, the No. 1 wide receiver in the 2027 class, remains committed to the Longhorns but is evaluating options as the Rebels make a strong push.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 8:51pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a football player in motion, broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in deep crimson, burnt orange, and navy blue, conveying the competitive nature of recruiting elite prospects in the SEC.The intense recruiting battle for elite talent in the SEC is on full display as Ole Miss relentlessly pursues a five-star wide receiver committed to a conference rival.New Orleans Today

New Orleans (La.) Brother Martin five-star wide receiver Easton Royal committed to the Texas Longhorns in November, but the Ole Miss Rebels are continuing to aggressively recruit him and have secured an official visit. Royal, the top-ranked receiver in the 2027 class, said Ole Miss has been one of the schools pushing hardest for his services despite his existing commitment to the Longhorns.

Why it matters

Flipping a five-star recruit from a conference rival would be a major coup for the Ole Miss football program as they look to build on recent success and compete for SEC titles. Royal's recruitment showcases the intense competition for elite talent in the SEC, where schools will relentlessly pursue top prospects even after they've committed elsewhere.

The details

Royal, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound receiver, locked in official visits to see Ole Miss, LSU, Tennessee, and Florida this offseason as SEC schools intensify their pursuit. While he remains committed to Texas, Royal said Ole Miss has been one of the schools pushing hardest, with assistant coach Patrick Carter building a strong relationship from the start and continuing to recruit him aggressively even after his pledge to the Longhorns.

  • Royal committed to Texas on November 29th, 2026.
  • Royal will take official visits to Ole Miss, LSU, Tennessee, and Florida this offseason.

The players

Easton Royal

A five-star wide receiver from New Orleans (La.) Brother Martin and the No. 1 player at his position in the 2027 recruiting class, who is currently committed to the Texas Longhorns.

Patrick Carter

An assistant coach at Ole Miss who has been recruiting Easton Royal hard since the early stages of his recruitment and continues to push for him to flip his commitment from Texas to the Rebels.

Steve Sarkisian

The head coach of the Texas Longhorns, who secured a commitment from Easton Royal in November 2026.

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What they’re saying

“They have always been a strong contender because my relationship with Coach Patrick Carter is probably one of my strongest ones...he has been on me from Day 1...he's the first one to see the potential in me before anyone and continues to see me develop into what I can be.”

— Easton Royal, Five-Star Wide Receiver

“Florida, Tennessee, and Ole Miss - all of them have been great in making my decision harder. Schools usually back off once you commit. The schools that continue to push even harder are the ones that are going to separate themselves.”

— Easton Royal, Five-Star Wide Receiver

What’s next

Royal will take official visits to Ole Miss, LSU, Tennessee, and Florida this offseason as he continues to evaluate his options despite his existing commitment to Texas.

The takeaway

Easton Royal's recruitment showcases the intense competition for elite talent in the SEC, where schools will relentlessly pursue top prospects even after they've committed elsewhere. Ole Miss' aggressive pursuit of the five-star receiver, despite his pledge to Texas, highlights their desire to land a program-changing talent that could help them compete for conference titles.