Tennessee Football Reportedly Pursuing Top Texas Receiver Recruit

Vols look to flip five-star Easton Royal from Texas commitment

Apr. 1, 2026 at 8:21pm

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Tennessee Football is reportedly making a push to flip five-star wide receiver Easton Royal from his current commitment to the Texas Longhorns. Royal, a top-10 national recruit and the No. 2 receiver in the 2027 class, visited Knoxville last weekend and came away impressed with the Vols' program.

Why it matters

Tennessee has had tremendous success recruiting wide receivers in recent years, landing a number of top prospects. Flipping another elite pass-catcher like Royal from an SEC rival would be another major recruiting victory for Josh Heupel and his staff.

The details

Royal, a New Orleans native who plays for Brother Martin High School, has been committed to Texas since late 2025. However, he is still taking visits this spring, including a trip to Tennessee last weekend. The Vols' wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope has been a key factor in the team's recruiting success at the position.

  • Royal visited Tennessee last weekend during the Vols' spring camp.
  • Royal is scheduled to take an official visit to Tennessee on June 5.

The players

Easton Royal

A five-star wide receiver recruit from New Orleans, ranked as the No. 9 overall player and No. 2 receiver in the 2027 class.

Josh Heupel

The head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers football team.

Kelsey Pope

The wide receivers coach for the Tennessee Volunteers football team, who has been instrumental in the program's recent recruiting success at the position.

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What they’re saying

“It's the University of Tennessee and it's like a pro team around there.”

— Easton Royal, Five-star wide receiver recruit

What’s next

Royal is scheduled to take official visits to LSU, Florida, and Ole Miss in addition to his return trip to Tennessee in June. The Vols will look to flip his commitment from Texas in the coming months.

The takeaway

Tennessee's ability to recruit elite wide receiver talent has been a key factor in the program's recent resurgence. Flipping another top-tier pass-catcher like Easton Royal from an SEC rival would further cement the Vols' status as a premier destination for offensive playmakers.