Josh Heupel, you really are a rockstar. For months now, Tennessee football has been working overtime in trying to add 5-star wide receiver Tristen Keys to its commits list. The 5-star wideout was committed to the LSU Tigers, but that's no longer the case.
Moments ago, breaking news arrived that Tennessee has in fact pulled off the biggest recruiting flip of the 2026 cycle, with Keys backing out of his LSU pledge and switching things to the Vols. Brian Kelly and the Tigers thought they were going to have a generational talent make plays for them in Baton Rouge, but Heupel had other ideas.
BREAKING: 5-star WR Tristen Keys flips from LSU to @Vol_Football.
— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) August 28, 2025
Said he’d be a Vol in October... now it's done.
"I can't wait to put on for the fans in Knoxville.”
No. 1 WR @TKgot5 and No. 1 QB @Faizon_Brandon are Vols.
VIP https://t.co/4SeEYrRyWx@247Sports @CBSSportsCFB pic.twitter.com/Y24OgSYMRQ
5-star WR Tristen Keys just committed to Tennessee in a huge get for Josh Heupel
Anyone else pretty fired up right now? In June, Keys took his Tennessee official visit and a video went viral of him donning Vols gear. Heupel, in a brilliant move, also had 5-star quarterback Faizon Brandon on campus that weekend too to help out with the recruiting efforts.
On multiple occasions, Brandon has publicly recruited Keys, making it clear that he wants to make plays with him in Knoxville. Luckily for Brandon, who is ranked the No. 1 quarterback in the country, that's how things are going to play out.
Keys is ranked five stars, the No. 1 wide receiver in the country, No. 1 player from Mississippi and No. 4 player nationally per 247Sports. He surprised a lot of people when he originally committed to LSU and Kelly, doing so back on March 19.
Shortly after that, however, Keys started taking other visits and the door swung open for other programs to change his mind. That's exactly what Tennessee has been able to get across the line. Keys becomes the fourth 5-star pledge for Heupel's '26 haul, joining Gabriel Osenda, Salesi Moa and Brandon.
Earlier this month, the Vols missed out on 5-star targets Savion Hiter and Darius Gray, which was no question a bummer. The Hiter news stung in particular, as he was down to Tennessee and Michigan. However, as soon as that happened, the focus went to Keys and the 6-3 wideout gave Heupel and Tennessee fans everywhere the news they were hoping for. This is a major get for Tennessee.