Nation’s No. 1 WR Sends Tennessee Clear Message Despite LSU Commitment originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

One of the biggest pieces added to the LSU Tigers’ 2026 recruiting class is wide receiver Tristen Keys out of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, who committed to the program on March 19.

However, he’s keeping his options open, as he’s still taken official visits with the Miami Hurricanes (May 30), Texas A&M Aggies (June 5), Auburn Tigers (June 10) and Tennessee Volunteers (June 13).

All of these programs are certainly looking to steal him away from the Tigers, and while talking to On3’s Steve Wiltfong, Keys revealed what he’s seen from the Volunteers.

“Tennessee, I’m in love with the coaches, recruits, players, all that,” Keys said.”I like the environment, fanbase, all that type of stuff. They just make me feel comfortable.”

Of course, to be competitive within the SEC, you need to have talented players and so far, Tennessee has put together a strong recruiting class, featuring a total of 10 commitments, ranking No. 7 in the nation.

If they were able to flip someone of Keys’ talent, it would be a major shift, as the only other pass-catchers the program has landed come in the form of four-star wide receiver Tyreek King and four-star tight end Carson Sneed.

Keys would immediately become the top player of their class, even surpassing five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon, with On3 Industry Rankings placing him as a five-star recruit, the No. 1 wide receiver and the No. 5 player in the nation.

Keys’ impressive rating is also backed up by his solid production for Hattiesburg last season, with 40 receptions for 839 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Will Tennessee have enough momentum to flip Keys’ commitment, or will the wide receiver ride things out and remain with LSU?

Related: Ohio State Predicted to Lose Elite 5-Star Recruit to SEC Powerhouse

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.