Tristen Keys, an elite five-star wide receiver from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, has pledged his commitment to LSU for the 2026 recruiting cycle. Ranked as the No. 1 receiver and No. 4 overall prospect by 247Sports and ESPN, Keys turned down offers from powerhouse programs such as Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas A&M.
His announcement, made Wednesday afternoon, came ahead of his scheduled official visits, which included Tennessee and Alabama. Many viewed the Volunteers as the frontrunners in his recruitment.
LSU Lands No. 1 WR Tristen Keys in Huge Recruiting Win
LSU has secured a major addition to its 2026 recruiting class with the commitment of five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys. The highly sought-after prospect from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is ranked as the No. 1 wide receiver and No. 3 overall player in the On3 Industry Rankings.
His decision comes just one day after attending an LSU spring practice, solidifying a major recruiting victory for head coach Brian Kelly and wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton.
“LSU has produced a lot of top receivers and I see them at WRU,” Keys told On3. I talk to Coach Hankton a lot, and it is a place I am very familiar with. I want to keep building my bond with them.”
Keys is now the highest-rated player in LSU’s 2026 recruiting class. If he officially signs later this year, he will be the Tigers’ most highly ranked wide receiver addition since Kayshon Boutte, the No. 33 overall recruit in the 2020 cycle.
His commitment makes him LSU’s seventh pledge for 2026 and its first from outside Louisiana. He joins four-star wide receivers Kenny Darby and Jakai Anderson as part of an impressive offensive class.
During his junior season at Hattiesburg High, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound receiver recorded 58 receptions for 1,275 yards and 14 touchdowns, helping his team reach the 6A state championship game. As a sophomore, he posted 40 catches for 839 yards and 12 touchdowns. His dominance earned him a spot in the Under Armour Next All-America Game earlier this year.
Keys’ recruitment was highly competitive, with Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas A&M pushing hard to land him. He visited Auburn and Alabama in January and later traveled to Miami and Tennessee before committing to LSU. While he had scheduled additional visits to Texas A&M and Tennessee, it remains uncertain whether he will still take those trips.
KEEP READING: Top 7 LSU WRs of All Time
This marks the second straight cycle in which LSU has landed a commitment from an elite wide receiver. Last year, five-star Dakorien Moore initially pledged to the Tigers before flipping to Oregon.
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