Easton Royal’s commitment to Texas has started to look less like a lock and more like a live wire.
The five-star 2027 wide receiver, who chose the Longhorns in November 2025, is drawing serious heat from multiple SEC programs, and his latest comments after a weekend trip to Florida only turned up the pressure. Royal told Rivals recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman that he could "100 percent" see himself playing at Florida, and added, "I’m very close to a decision."
That’s not the kind of language Texas wants to hear from a player it has been counting on for months.
Royal, a Louisiana native, is already one of the biggest names in the class. Rivals and ESPN both list him as the top wide receiver in 2027, while 247Sports has him second at the position behind Clemson commit Jamarin Simmons.
Rivals also slots him as the No. 3 overall player in the country, with its industry ranking placing him at No. 5.
Texas has had to fend off plenty of interest along the way. Royal’s name had already been tied to a possible move toward LSU and Lane Kiffin over the summer, and he has now taken official visits to Texas, LSU, Florida and Ole Miss. He also visited Florida earlier before returning for this weekend’s trip, and the Gators made a strong impression in a weekend that ended with Florida beating Ole Miss 52-28.
Royal still has one official visit left, though there’s no clear sign yet where that trip might go. He has also taken unofficial visits to Miami and Ohio State.
The timing adds another layer to the buzz. After Tennessee running back recruit David Gabriel Georges reportedly signed a three-year, $6 million NIL deal with the Vols, Royal’s situation naturally raises the question of what a top receiver might command in a recruiting battle loaded with SEC heavyweights.
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The broader picture matters even more for a team trying to keep its SEC path alive under Lane Kiffin. LSU held Texas A&M to fewer than 200 total yards and repeatedly disrupted the rhythm of the game with sacks and turnovers, a level of control that had been missing in the loss to Ole Miss. Whether it proves to be the reset this season needed will depend on what comes next, but this was the kind of complete performance that can change the conversation quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Just Got An Early Playoff Path Fans Will Study
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LSU May Have Found A New Defensive Difference Maker
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Geralds was hardly the only Tiger making noise on that side of the ball. Tamarcus Cooley added two tackles, a sack and an interception, while Princewill Umanmielen kept his own pressure streak going with another sack to reach seven on the season. LSUs defense has been looking for a player who can consistently tilt a game, and after this outing, Geralds has at least made himself part of that conversation. [Read more 🡒]