LSU Facing Trouble as SEC Rival Named 'Top Competition' to Flip 5-Star WR

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nate Lunak | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 3:23 PM ET

The LSU Tigers have been amazing in the 2026 recruiting period so far, landing a total of 16 commitments as their group ranks No. 5 in the SEC and No. 8 in the nation.

One of the biggest additions has been Tristen Keys, whom Rivals Industry Rankings places as a five-star recruit, the No. 1 wide receiver, the No. 1 player in Mississippi and the No. 7 player in the nation.

He has been committed to LSU for quite some time, originally pledging himself to the program on March 19, but it's clear his options are still open.

One SEC Team Has Stood Out

If the Tigers are not careful, they could well end up losing Keys to a team within their own conference, and in an article from Rivals' Chad Simmons, he revealed the Tennessee Volunteers may pose the biggest threat.

"We expect the playmaker out of Hattiesburg (Miss.) to take visits in the fall and we view the Vols as LSU’s top competition heading into the season," Simmons wrote. "The dialogue remains strong with the staff in Knoxville."

For Tennessee, this obviously serves as a huge opportunity to add at one of the most important positions on any football team.

Keys Would be a Huge Boost for Tennessee

Not only would a potential flip be a nice off-the-field win against a conference opponent, but it also would serve as a huge addition to the Volunteers' 2026 class, which sits at No. 7 in the SEC and No. 14 in the nation.

If Keys were to land with Tennessee, not only would he become the Volunteers' highest-rated wide receiver recruit over four-star Tyreek King (No. 128 in the nation), but their best prospect overall, even surpassing five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon (No. 11 in the nation).

Options Outside of Keys Are Limited

Of course, seeing the Volunteers battling it out for a player already committed doesn't come as much of a surprise this late into the offseason.

In fact, as of right now, only two wide receivers within the top 50 of Rivals Industry Rankings have yet to choose a program, four-star Jase Mathews (No. 2) and four-star Davian Groce (No. 7).

That means if teams are still looking to add some of the top talent at the position, it would likely need to come in the form of a flip, which puts even more pressure on LSU to keep Keys.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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