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5-star Tristen Keys breaks down his flip from LSU to Tennessee

On3 imageby: Austin Price08/28/25AustinPriceless
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Tennessee made major recruiting news with the flip of 5-star wide receiver Tristen Keys. The now former LSU pledge spoke with Volquest before going public with his flip to detail why Tennessee was the school for him.

“I’d say the culture, the fans, the town with everybody just coming out to the game and showing mad love,” Keys stated on what made him pick Rocky Top. “The support system they have because win, lose or draw, the Tennessee fans are still going to be out there cheering Go Vols at the end of the day.

“The coaching staff, great coaches, great people and great fathers. They know what they are doing and that’s one of the biggest things for me knowing that I’ll have a father figure to prepare me for the next level.”

Keys is ready to rock the orange and white.

Those were just some of the factors that led him to Tennessee.

“Just the environment and what they are doing now with the program,” Keys said. “Playing at Neyland Stadium. I can just imagine catching my first touchdown in there and then going crazy. Then they got Faizon and he is the best quarterback in the country. No it’s, and or buts about it.”

So what made Tennessee special to the Hattiesburg, Mississippi native?

“The connections and network you have in Knoxville,” Keys said, “I just feel like it goes a long way in terms of building and creating generational wealth with your family and family after that.”

Keys relationship with Kelsey Pope was an integral piece in the decision to flip. Pope and Keys have been constantly talking for two years and did so even though he was committed to LSU.

“Coach Kelsey is my guy,” Keys said. “I met him early in my recruitment and he is my dog. He was that way before I committed. He would hit me up and we talked on the phone. We get along and relate to each other. You have that person you can relate too and then he can coach you on the field so you know both sides to him.”

A family decision led Keys to Tennessee flip.

Pope has now landed four marquee wideouts in the 2026 cycle. He joins Tyreek King, Legend Bey and Salesi Moa in this class. Keys likened them to a pretty elite squad.

“That’s like the 2016 Warriors with KD and (Steph) Curry and everybody,” Keys said. “You can’t ask for anything better than that. We have the speed and length outside. We have guys that can move. All of us can get off press. All of us can run and I don’t think you can beat that. All of us on the field is unstoppable. You can’t really beat it. There is no limit. It’s how far we can take it.”

He also loved Josh Heupel and how he approaches the team both in good and bad times.

“He an energetic guy,” Keys said. “Some experienced coaches don’t have that go in them. He has that dog in him. After a W he will dance and after a loss he will give you motivation to focus on next week. He is a great person and a great coach for sure.”

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