The Tennessee Volunteers have recently found success against the Alabama Crimson Tide, winning two of their last three matchups, and they appear poised for another victory—this time in a major recruiting battle. Tennessee and Alabama are among several programs competing for five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys from Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Ranked as the No. 1 receiver in the 2026 class by On3, Keys is set to visit Tennessee this spring on Monday and has scheduled official visits with both Tennessee and Alabama in June. According to On3’s Hunter Shelton, he plans to announce his commitment before August.
However, On3’s projections indicate that both Tennessee and Alabama may face an uphill battle to secure Keys’ commitment. Ole Miss currently leads the race with a 30.6% chance, followed by USC at 20.3%. Alabama (11.8%) ranks third, while Tennessee and Auburn are tied at 9.8%. Keys also holds an On3 NIL valuation of $415,000.
Alabama has a strong track record of producing NFL-caliber wide receivers, with recent first-round picks like Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith, and Jameson Williams achieving success at the next level. Despite this, Tennessee is seen as the frontrunner by 247 Sports’ Tom Loy. Speaking on The Ultimate College Football Show, Loy noted, “Alabama is absolutely surging in this one, but I still slightly like Tennessee right now.”
With the race for Keys’ commitment intensifying, his decision will be one of the most closely watched in the 2026 recruiting cycle. If Tennessee comes out on top, fans can expect him to make an immediate impact in Josh Heupel’s high-powered offense.
