Tristen Keys signs with Tennessee and gives the Vols and immediate threat

Tennessee had been near the top of Tristen Keys’ list from the beginning. The five-star wide receiver from Hattiesburg (Miss.) was high on the Vols throughout last fall, making multiple visits to Neyland Stadium and building early traction with Josh Heupel’s staff. As the calendar flipped to 2025, Tennessee was widely viewed as one of the frontrunners, if not the team to beat.

But his recruitment took a sharp turn in March when Keys made a visit to LSU. The trip sparked immediate momentum, and he committed to the Tigers while in Baton Rouge. Even then, the door never fully closed. Keys continued to visit other programs, and Tennessee never backed off. Their persistence paid off late in August when the No. 11 prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking flipped his commitment from LSU to the Vols.

Now, Keys is ready to join forces with five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon and bring explosive playmaking to Neyland Stadium.

“Tennessee has been there a long time,” Keys said. “I’ve always loved the coaches—every part of the coaching staff, from the offense to the defense. The environment, the people, the fans, you can see them going crazy. That’s the type of love I want. You can see they want me there.

“And they got the No. 1 quarterback (Brandon). Every time I go there, the coaches and the players make it feel like home. I’ve got that type of relationship with them. I feel it’s love.”

Keys believes this Tennessee class has the potential to elevate the Vols to championship contention.

“No. 1 quarterback, No. 1 receiver—that’s the best it can get. It doesn’t get better than that.”

Scouting Report

Contested catch maven who looks like the top wide receiver prospect early in the 2026 cycle. Has good size, measuring at ver 6-foot-2, 185 pounds with good length as a junior. Turned in a strong junior campaign, catching 58 passes for 1,275 yards and 14 touchdowns while leading his team to a deep playoff run. Excels in contested catch situations, elevating to come down with acrobatic grabs. Hangs in the air and is able to contort his body into favorable positions.

Displays a huge catch radius, high-pointing the football and coming down with one-handed grabs. High-level ball tracker with the ability to locate and corral the ball over his shoulder. Shows some route-running nuance. Has some shake off the line of scrimmage and is able to stack corners with his releases. Runs hard after the catch. Able to attack all areas of the field with his well-rounded skill set. Made some huge plays in big contests as a junior.