Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns made a big splash when receiving a commitment from five-star wide receiver Easton Royal on Nov. 29. He headlines a 2027 recruiting class that ranks ninth in the nation with six commitments.
At 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, he's the No. 1 wide receiver and the No. 7 player in the nation, per Rivals Industry Rankings. He put together an impressive junior season at Brother Martin High School in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Royal was named a MaxPreps Junior All-American with 57 receptions for 1,374 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also rushed for 277 yards and five touchdowns. Despite his pledge to the Longhorns, the wide receiver is expressing clear interest in other programs.
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While landing his commitment is a good sign for Texas, Royal hasn't completely shut his recruitment down. Rivals' Sam Spiegelman reported that the wide receiver has locked in an official visit with the LSU Tigers on May 28.
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin has been making an impression on Royal since his time with the Ole Miss Rebels. "They’ve been pushing hard and contacting me consistently," Royal said. "They’ve been keeping that connection from Ole Miss and only making it stronger."
Along with the Tigers, the wide receiver has official visits scheduled with the Tennessee Volunteers (June 4), Florida Gators (June 11) and Texas (June 19). While the Longhorns hold his commitment, they face pressure from several of the SEC's top programs.
If Royal were to flip, he wouldn't be the first player to do so in the 2027 cycle. Sarkisian and his staff also lost EDGE Taven Epps to the Oklahoma Sooners. Texas could face the same fate with Royal if it is not careful.