College Football’s No. 1 WR Makes Major Decision, Flips From Texas to Florida

The New Orleans star shut down his recruitment and canceled visits to Texas and LSU shortly after picking the Gators, giving Jon Sumrall two five-star pledges.

Easton Royal/IG

Florida landed the nation’s top wide receiver recruit Sunday when New Orleans Brother Martin star Easton Royal flipped his commitment from Texas, giving first-year coach Jon Sumrall a second five-star commitment in the 2027 class.

Royal ranks No. 5 overall and No. 1 at receiver in the Rivals Industry Rankings, and he broke the news to Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett with a three-word summary: “Dreams to reality.” Minutes later, he shut down his recruitment and canceled his remaining visits to Texas and LSU.

How Florida flipped Easton Royal

Florida head coach Jon Sumrall watches the action against South Carolina | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Royal had been committed to Texas since November, but Florida’s push picked up speed after his Sept. 26 game-day visit to Gainesville, where the Gators beat then-No. 4 Ole Miss and put up 52 points. He left the Swamp saying he could picture himself playing there.

“One-hundred-percent, I can,” Royal told Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman. “That offense looks very explosive.”

Sumrall’s relationship with the speedster goes back to his time at Tulane, where members of his current staff recruited him. Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong then logged an expert prediction for the Gators before Royal returned to Gainesville for Saturday’s homecoming game against South Carolina.

Florida lost to the Gamecocks, but Royal said this season’s results wouldn’t shape his choice and blamed injuries at receiver, including the absence of Vernell Brown III. The staff also sold him on an immediate role in the offense.

“They tell me that Eric Singleton will be gone and they will need me to come in and replace him and stretch the field,” Royal told Gator Country.

Easton Royal’s ranking and production

Rivals ranks Royal No. 3 nationally, while ESPN slots him at No. 8 and 247Sports puts him at No. 15. Every major service lists him as a top-two receiver, and he’s the top-ranked prospect in Louisiana.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound receiver caught 54 passes for 1,065 yards and 15 touchdowns in 13 games as a junior in 2025. He also runs track and owns a 10.17-second time in the 100 meters.

Royal earned MVP honors at the Under Armour All-America Game in January after a one-handed touchdown catch over fellow five-star Joshua Dobson. Rivals’ scouting team compares him to former Gators star Percy Harvin in his Rivals profile.

He joins interior offensive lineman Maxwell Hiller, the No. 2 overall prospect, as Florida’s second five-star pledge in the 2027 cycle.

What’s next for Texas and LSU?

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian reacts during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Neither school will get another look from Royal this fall. His canceled trips included Texas’ home game against Florida next weekend and two November visits to LSU.

“My recruitment is shut down,” Royal told Fawcett.

The flip came one day after Oklahoma upset then-No. 1 Texas in the Red River Rivalry. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns now host the Gators on Oct. 17 in Austin without their former pledge in the stands, and Texas already lost out on five-star receiver Monshun Sales to Indiana this cycle.

LSU spent most of the summer as the favorite to flip Royal. Lane Kiffin took the Tigers' job the day after Royal committed to Texas, and Spiegelman forecast an LSU flip in late July.

Royal had planned to be in Baton Rouge for the Texas at LSU game on Nov. 14. He can sign with Florida during the early signing period in December.