Texas capitalized on rivalry-week momentum, landing five-star WR Easton Royal as its first 2027 commit, a major recruiting win over LSU, Ole Miss, Oregon and more.
Texas and Steve Sarkisian didn't waste any time turning rivalry-week momentum into recruiting juice.
Less than 24 hours after the Longhorns' 27-17 win over No. 3 Texas A&M, five-star wide receiver Easton Royal committed to Texas on Saturday, giving UT a massive first building block in its 2027 class.
Royal, a 6-0, 195-pound burner from New Orleans (Brother Martin High School), is ranked No. 16 overall in the ESPN Junior 300 and the No. 3 wide receiver in the 2027 cycle.
He chose Texas over Ole Miss, LSU, Oregon and a deep lineup of Power 4 offers, signaling just how strongly he felt about what Sarkisian is building in Austin.
The Louisiana product has already put up video-game numbers as a junior, hauling in 53 catches for 1,151 yards and 17 touchdowns this fall.
His blend of size, burst and ball skills makes him exactly the type of perimeter weapon Sark loves in his offense, someone who can win vertically, create after the catch and punish single coverage when defenses load up to stop the run.
Royal instantly becomes one of the headline names in the early 2027 recruiting picture.
Among current commits nationwide in that class, only five-stars Jamier Brown (Ohio State) and Jalen Brewster (Texas Tech) are ranked higher by ESPN, putting Texas right in the middle of the elite-weapon arms race that defines modern college football.
His pledge also comes as Texas is trying to close out a strong 2026 haul that currently sits seventh in ESPN’s class rankings.
The Longhorns hosted several major targets during the A&M win, including Baylor edge commit Jamarion Carlton (No. 96 overall) and three-star UCLA safety pledge Toray Davis, while continuing to chase LSU commits Brysten Martinez (No. 84) and defensive tackle Richard Anderson (No. 90).
With four-star receiver Chris Stewart (No. 185) currently the lone ESPN 300 wideout set to sign with Texas in 2026, landing Royal early in 2027 is a crucial statement at the position.
From beating A&M on the field to beating blue-bloods for a five-star receiver the next day, Texas just sent another message ... the Longhorns plan to keep stacking elite talent on the perimeter, and Easton Royal might be the next star in burnt orange.