Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Vols can ruin the Texas Longhorns' summer, but Lane Kiffin and LSU are standing in the way

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Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Volunteers have a real opportunity to ruin the Texas Longhorns’ summer, but Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers are standing in the way of that actually happening.

Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Vols are hoping to ruin the Texas Longhorns’ summer.

But Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers are standing in the way.

Heupel and the Vols are trying to steal 2027 five-star wide receiver Easton Royal from the Longhorns.

Royal, 5-foot-11/200 pounds from New Orleans, LA, is rated in 247Sports’ composite rankings as the No. 2 wide receiver in the nation and the No. 8 overall player in the 2027 recruiting class. He’s been committed to Texas since last November.

The five-star recruit visited Tennessee in March, and he left the Vols with confidence that the program can flip him from Tennessee.

“There is confidence around Knoxville they can ultimately flip Royal who is also considering LSU and Florida,” wrote On3’s Steve Wiltfong following Royal’s visit to Tennessee. “He’ll be back at Tennessee this summer for an official visit.”

LSU is the favorite to flip Easton Royal from Texas

Unfortunately for the Vols, LSU is viewed as the top contender to flip Royal from the Longhorns.

On3’s Same Spiegelman noted last week that LSU is preparing to make a “formidable NIL pitch” to Royal.

“LSU has closed the gap significantly over the last few months, and the staff is preparing to make a very formidable NIL pitch to Royal’s camp, which will include a few catered to his major and other interests,” wrote Spiegelman. “Florida and Tennessee are also in this, though I view LSU as the team in the best position to potentially move the No. 1 WR off his commitment to the Longhorns.”

Landing a wide receiver from New Orleans over LSU is never easy.

But the Vols — thanks to wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope — managed to land five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys out of Mississippi over Kiffin (Kiffin recruited Keys to Ole Miss and to LSU) during the 2026 recruiting cycle. So I wouldn’t rule out Tennessee in this battle just yet…

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