While it may not happen, you have to applaud the effort for at least trying. Although five-star wide receiver prospect Easton Royal has been committed to Texas since the end of November, that is not going to stop Jon Sumrall and his staff from trying to flip him to Florida. Royal was in Gainesville on Thursday for a visit. There was even an intriguing photo opportunity involving the New Orleans native.
Royal not only did the Gator Chomp with Sumrall, but he shared it out over on social media Thursday.
🐊🐊! pic.twitter.com/f2dsPvU3ry
— Easton Royal🙏🏾⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@easton_3k) March 12, 2026
According to the 247 Sports Composite, Royal is the No. 1 player from Louisiana, the No. 2 wide receiver in the country, and the No. 9 overall prospect in the 2027 recruiting cycle. He has 31 official offers including ones from LSU, Ohio State, and Tennessee, in addition to Florida and Texas. While Sumrall could be gathering intel on him, the former Tulane head coach spent time in New Orleans...
No matter what happens, you have to appreciate the willingness Sumrall has put into recruitment.
Jon Sumrall seems to have left a good impression on 5-star Easton Royal
There are a few things at play here. The first is Sumrall is dead-set on making his first season at Florida a success. He apparently had to cancel he and his wife's 15-year wedding anniversary trip to Italy because he is so locked into his new job at UF. Will that work out for him remains to be seen... Regardless, Sumrall is not being the least bit timid when it comes to turning Florida around in a hurry.
Even though he competed at the Group of Six level previously, Sumrall won prolifically at Tulane and Troy before that. He also knows that Florida will have to beat the likes of Texas to get back on top in the SEC hierarchy. Even more interesting, Florida's former cross-divisional rival LSU is ushering in a new era as well this season. It serves Sumrall to gain intel on the very best prospects from Louisiana.
Overall, it could be quite challenging for Florida to get Royal to flip from Texas in this cycle. Texas is a traditional power and at or near the peak of its powers presently. Florida could get back to its lofty standard under Sumrall, but that is not going to be this season. The other big key here is we live in the transfer portal era of college sports. Players come and go all the time, so it is all about relationships.
Royal may have had a good time in Gainesville, but Florida is not quite ready to flip him from Texas.