A 2027 five-star wide receiver who is committed to another SEC program left no doubt this week on how he views the Tennessee Vols football program under Josh Heupel.

2027 five-star wide receiver Easton Royal, 5-foot-11/200 pounds, has been committed to the Texas Longhorns since November. The New Orleans native is rated in 247Sports’ composite rankings as the No. 2 wide receiver in the nation and the No. 8 overall player in the 2027 recruiting class.

Tennessee, LSU, and Florida are the main programs trying to flip Royal from Texas.

Easton Royal makes it clear how he views Tennessee football

Royal spoke to On3 about his recruitment this week and he described Tennessee as a “pro team”.

“They’ve had 800-yard receivers, Biletnikoff winners, draft picks,” said Royal. “They showed me the route tree, how it translates to NFL offenses, in-game concepts, and NFL teams running the same thing this past season. It’s the University of Tennessee, and it’s like a pro team around there.”

That quote should give Vols fans some peace that top recruits aren’t buying into the narrative that Tennessee doesn’t prepare players for the NFL.

I think it’s important to point out, by the way, that preparing players for the NFL is about way more than scheme. Every college football program, due to rosters that change dramatically from year to year, are running offenses that are far less complex than what we used to see from some teams. Coaches don’t have years to develop players anymore — because it’s playoff or bust. So as a result, coaches are forced to used simplified systems.

It’s the off-the-field stuff where players really learn how to become pros, and that’s something Tennessee has consistently done well with during the Heupel era.

“Tennessee, you know, you learn how to grow up fast,” said former Vols quarterback Joe Milton in 2024. “We kind of had the same schedule how we have it here — do everything in the morning and then your whole afternoon you’re off. Other than the rookie player development meetings. But other than that, Tennessee, they set you up for the NFL. You know, just the time off and how you manage your time, how you take care of your body, the way that you study.”

As for Royal’s recruitment, we’ll see where things stand once he takes his official visits. LSU is probably in the best position to flip him from Texas, but the Vols are in the fight.