The Florida Gators could steal this top-ranked wide receiver recruit from an SEC foe.
The Florida Gators already seem more formidable under new head coach Jon Sumrall, who did a tremendous job in the transfer portal this winter and is making waves on the recruiting circuit.
Could Florida now proceed to steal the one of the nation's top-ranked wide receivers from the Texas Longhorns?
Five-star 2027 receiver Easton Royal, who committed to Texas back in November, is still taking visits with other teams, and he has two planned with the Gators.
Not only will Royal be heading to Gainesville for an unofficial visit next month, but he has also scheduled an official meeting with Florida this June.
Royal, who has drawn comparisons to NFL superstar Tyreek Hill, is the third-ranked wide receiver in his class and the 12th-ranked player in the country overall, via 247 Sports' composite rankings. He is also the top-ranked player in Louisiana.
The Gators are far from the only squad trying to pry Royal away from Austin.
LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon and Tennessee, among others, have also been pushing to flip Royal.
Easton Royal. Credit: Nadia Zomorodian/News-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.In fact, Royal has also scheduled an official visit to Tennessee a week before his plans to head down to the Swamp.
Royal hauled in 54 receptions for 1,374 yards and 19 touchdowns during his junior campaign at Brother Martin.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound burner would absolutely represent a colossal get for Florida and would further demonstrate that the Gators are back on the map after a thoroughly brutal stretch.
Florida went 4-8 last season and has posted four losing campaigns over the last five years, marking one of the worst stretches in program history.
Once one of the top football schools in the nation, the Gators have certainly fallen on hard times in recent years and had been fading into near irrelevancy.
However, Sumrall seems primed to get Florida back on the right track.
The 43-year-old has four years of prior head-coaching experience, splitting that time between Troy and Tulane. He went 43-12 during that span, most recently leading Tulane to an 11-3 record and a College Football Playoff appearance.
We'll see if Sumrall can right the ship in Gainesville.
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