Easton Royal, the top-ranked wide receiver and No. 8 overall prospect in the 2027 class, has flipped his commitment from Texas to Florida, his family told ESPN. The 6-foot, 205-pound pass catcher from New Orleans made the decision after his latest visit with the Gators during their 38-19 loss to South Carolina. Royal is expected to cancel visits to Texas and LSU and shut down his recruiting process. The flip marks a major victory for first-year Florida coach Jon Sumrall, who offered Royal while at Tulane in March 2025 and resumed his pursuit after taking the Florida job. Royal cited Sumrall’s track record, including a College Football Playoff appearance at Tulane, as a key factor. He joins five-star offensive tackle Maxwell Hiller and quarterback Davin Davidson in Florida’s 2027 class, which now has 25 commits. A multisport standout, Royal recorded 2,095 all-purpose yards and 29 touchdowns last season and recently broke a 46-year-old Louisiana state record in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.17 seconds. His flip deals a significant blow to Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and adds stakes to Florida’s upcoming game at Texas on Saturday.
Royal initially committed to the Longhorns last November as the first member of their 2027 class. His decision to flip comes after months of interest from multiple SEC programs, including LSU, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. Per sources, Royal plans to fully end his recruitment.
Florida entered Saturday with the No. 8 ranked 2027 recruiting class in ESPN rankings. If Royal signs in December, he would be the highest-ranked wide receiver addition for the Gators since Percy Harvin in 2006.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing