We are closing in on the 2025 season, which kicks off on Saturday, but that doesn't mean Tennessee football is slowing down on the recruiting trail.
Josh Heupel and the Vols are still in hot pursuit of five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys, out of Mississippi. Keys is an LSU commit and has been for most of his recruiting process; however, the Vols have the momentum to potentially flip him from LSU to Tennessee.
The No. 1 wide receiver in the country still seems to be fully committed to LSU, but On3 Sports' Steven Wiltfong believes Tennessee has been building momentum to flip his commitment.
Other schools, like Miami and Texas A&M, are also pursuing Keys, but Wiltfong believes that if someone does end up flipping his commitment, it will be Tennessee.
"Sources around Baton Rouge have felt good about the recent dialogue with Keys and keeping him in the fold," Wiltfong shared about Keys' recruiting process. "Sources around Knoxville have always felt good about flipping the No. 1-ranked pass catcher in the land. My intel favors the latter."
Tennessee is looking at Keys as the dynamic playmaker in the class to pair with five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon, who is firmly committed to the Vols.
It also seems like the feeling is mutual between Keys and Tennessee, as he shared his thoughts about the Vols, what they offer, and his feelings while being recruited hard by Tennessee's coaching staff this summer.
"Tennessee, I'm in love with the coaches, recruits, players, all that," Keys said about Tennessee. "I like the environment, fanbase, all that type of stuff. They just make me feel comfortable."
If Josh Heupel and the Vols can close the deal, flipping the best receiver in America, it could be a huge turning point for Tennessee as they look to go from College Football Playoff contenders to National Championship contenders.