Tennessee looks to be one of three SEC programs that are “standing out” to elite class of 2026 wide receiver Tristen Keys, according to a report from On3 Sports’ Chad Simmons on Sunday.
While speaking with Keys recently about his recruiting process with the 2026 class now in the spotlight, the Mississippi-based wide receiver identified a trio of SEC programs as teams that have stood out to him including Josh Heupel’s Tennessee Volunteers.
“Tennessee, Texas A&M and Alabama are three schools standing out,” Keys told Simmons for On3. “I visited Tennessee twice for games this season and I am talking to them almost every day.”
Keys has visited Knoxville four times including for two games. The blue-chip prospect saw the Vols defeat rival Florida in overtime in October and saw Tennessee defeat Kentucky under the lights in the Dark Mode uniforms in November.
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound prospect from Hattiesburg High School in Hattiesburg, Miss., isn’t just one of the top receivers in the class but is one of the top overall players in the class. 247 Sports’ Composite Rankings have Keys listed as a five-star prospect, the No. 17 overall player, the No. 2 wide receiver in the class, and the No. 1 player from the state of Mississippi.
More from RTI: Who Are The Top Available Receivers In The Transfer Portal For Tennessee To Target?
Keys is a game-changing wide receiver who is sure to make an early impact on whichever program he lands at, but there’s still a lot of time between now and when he has to sign on the dotted line. Keys told Simmons and On3 that he wants to make a decision on his collegiate future before his senior football season next fall.
247 Sports National Recruiting Analyst Tom Loy entered an expert prediction for Tennessee to land Keys after his visit for the Florida game, though there’s clearly still a lot on the table before he makes his decision including official visits. It is worth noting, though.
Keys is set to compete in the Under Armour All-America Game on the other side of New Year’s Day. The game will take place from DeLand, FL, on Jan. 2 and will be broadcast on ESPN. That game will also be interesting from a Tennessee recruiting perspective as UT defensive line target JaReylan McCoy (2026) will be announcing his collegiate decision during the event.
Tennessee has seen significant turnover from its wide receiver room in the weeks following the Vols’ season-ending loss in the playoffs to Ohio State. The Vols have watched as Kaleb Webb, Chas Nimrod, Nathan Leacock, Nate Spillman, Squirrel White, and Mike Matthews have all entered the transfer portal in a mass exodus.
The Vols are retooling during the offseason with a handful of signees including four-star Travis Smith Jr., four-star Radarious Jackson, and three-star Joakim Dodson from the 2025 class. Tennessee would also be wise to look through the portal for more receiver help, too.
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