During the 2025 recruiting cycle, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer and his staff were vying for several five-star wide receivers. The Tide even had five-star wideout Caleb Cunningham committed before the Mississippi native ultimately chose his home-state team.
For the 2026 recruiting class, Alabama is once again aiming high, focusing on another Mississippi talent, five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys.
On Wednesday, Keys committed to LSU over Alabama, Miami, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Auburn. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound receiver visited Baton Rouge earlier this week before officially making his decision.
“LSU has produced a lot of top receivers and I see them at WRU,” Keys shared with On3’s Chad Simmons. “I talk to coach (Cortez) Hankton a lot and it is a place I am very familiar with. I want to keep building my bond with them.”
Keys, who plays for Hattiesburg High School in Mississippi, is ranked as the No. 3 player in the country and the top wide receiver in the On3 Industry Rankings.
“Contested catch maven who looks like the top wide receiver prospect early in the 2026 cycle,” said On3’s Charles Power. “He turned in a strong junior season, catching 58 passes for 1,275 yards and 14 touchdowns while leading his team to a deep playoff run.
He excels in contested catch situations, elevating to make acrobatic grabs. He hangs in the air and is able to contort his body into favorable positions. He displays a huge catch radius, high-pointing the football and making one-handed grabs.”
