5-Star Tristen Keys Announces Clear Frontrunner as Kalen DeBoer & Brian Kelly Receive Major Update

How fast the night changes in college football. There was a time when commitment meant a done deal. Now? It’s more like a maybe. Recruits toss out pledges, only to flip when another shiny offer shows up. And LSU knows this all too well. Brian Kelly already saw Michigan snatch 5-star QB Bryce Underwood right out of his backyard and take him to Ann Arbor. Then, their elite cornerback commit, Havon Finney Jr., started getting attention from Sherrone Moore and co. too. But the latest shake-up? It’s big. Five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys—the No. 1 WR in the class—committed to LSU back in March. But this time it’s not Michigan. He’s eyeing a move to an ACC powerhouse. And this even got Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer sweating.

So, when is Keys going to make the final call?  “I plan to commit right after official visits. I want to commit before August hits and before the season starts.”

The wide receiver had a busy month in March. Tristen Keys paid a visit to Tennessee on March 10, followed by LSU on March 18, Texas A&M on March 29, and closed it with Michigan on April 5. That’s when the Mississippi product and No. 2 wide receiver in the class gave his word to Kelly’s Tigers. “Once a Tiger, always a Tiger,” Keys told Hayes Fawcett. Well, he had his reason, as LSU was already atop the SEC and No. 3 in the country entering the third week of March. Now that May is here, Keys is tightening the shoelaces to hit the roads, as the bell has rung for his official visits.   

Tristen Keys holds 33 college offers and is currently a “hard commit” to LSU. But so what? The talented Keys is getting the most out of his recruiting experience. As per Rivals’ report, right now, Mario Cristobal’s Miami Hurricanes come off as the frontrunner. This will be Keys’ second visit to Miami. It looks like the Hurricanes’ hard work is paying off.

Now, what’s the reason behind Keys steering his ship towards Miami? “They’ve been trying their hardest just to get me. Sometimes when you commit, some of those schools fall off, some of them tend to keep attacking, so that’s what they’ve been doing, and I like that type of energy.” According to On3 Sports’ Steve Wiltfong, Keys is visiting Miami on May 31. The Miami Hurricanes are on a recruiting heater right now.

Earlier this month, Cristobal and co. wooed five-star OT Jackson Cantwell. Plus, the Hurricanes had a glittery season considering their success on offense. Wiltfong noted, “Keys is committed to LSU, but Miami is viewed as one of the biggest challengers. He likes the offense, receivers coach Kevin Beard, the way the Hurricanes treat their players, and trajectory of the program.” Can the Hurricanes persuade Keys to ditch the bayou for the beach?

Brian Kelly and Kalen DeBoer’s FOMO for Tristen Keys is real  

Kelly getting Keys to commit was a huge deal, especially after last year’s big slip ft. Underwood. It came off as a big win to earn the wide receiver’s trust, who once held 33 college offers. Plus, he came off as a big catch for Kelly and Co.

Keys carries a strong resume, having hauled in 58 passes for 1,275 yards and 14 touchdowns. Post which, he earned himself the spotlight, earning an invite to both the Under Armour All-America Game and the Polynesian Bowl, combining for eight catches for 72 yards and a touchdown in those two all-star events.

With this, Keys led the Hattiesburg High Tigers to an undefeated regular season and an appearance in the 6A championship game. Here came a scouting report from Andrew Irvis, 247Sports Director of Scouting. “A potential game-wrecker on the outside that can attack all three levels and constantly challenge defenses. Creates separation with his suddenness and will break off defensive backs with snappy cuts. Attacks the football with confidence and has a rather high success rate in contested-catch situations.” All this might have left DeBoer with a huge FOMO as well. 

Alabama extended an offer to Tristen Keys back in September 2024. Once upon a time, Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama turned heads on the recruiting trail. As 247Sports national recruiting analyst Tom Loy shared, “Another school that made a huge move recently was Alabama. His junior day visit to Tuscaloosa was an eye-opener. He connected well with multiple players on campus, including freshman quarterback and former five-star recruit Keelon Russell. Keep an eye on the Crimson Tide.” Is Cristobal about to pull off a recruiting heist while DeBoer and Kelly stand frozen?