GAINESVILLE — Top receiver recruit Easton Royal committed to Florida on Sunday while spurning Texas to deliver a jolt of positive news after the Gators’ second straight lopsided loss.

The 5-foot-11½, 214-pound New Orleans product was the first commitment in the Longhorns’ 2027 class, but shifted to the Gators following their 38-19 homecoming collapse against South Carolina and then-No. 1 Texas’ stunning 27-24 loss to rival Oklahoma.

Rated the nation’s No. 1 prospect at his position and No. 5 overall by 247Sports composite rankings, Royal totaled 2,095 all-purpose yards and 29 touchdowns in 2025. He also was the Louisiana 5A 100- and 200-meter champion with times of 10.17 and 20.84 seconds, respectively, the 200 time wind-aided, per 247Sports.

Royal’s decision came as Florida (4-2, 2-2 SEC) turned its attention to Saturday’s visit to Texas (4-1, 1-1), pushing first-year coach Jon Sumrall’s class to No. 8 in the 247Sports’ team rankings.

A 5-star recruit, Royal joins 4-star prospects Elias Pearl of Port Charlotte and Cottondale’s Tramond Williams, along with Fort Lauderdale Dillard’s Anthony Jennings, as the Gators continue to get commitments from offensive weapons.

Royal and company would bolster a Florida receiving corps that has not lived up to its preseason billing as one of the nation’s best.

Vernell Brown III is the unit’s star, and has 17 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns in four games. But he has missed the past two weeks with a knee injury a season after a shoulder injury sidelined him during losses to Georgia and Ole Miss in 2025.

Dallas Wilson leads Florida with 26 catches for 376 yards and three scores, and at 6-foot-3, 212 pounds a matchup problem for defenses. Beyond the sophomore duo, Florida continues to identify downfield options in the passing game.

Against South Carolina, Georgia Tech transfer Bailey Stockton recorded career-highs of eight catches for 127 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown that gave the Gators a 7-0 lead.

But highly touted Auburn transfer Eric Singleton Jr. has been ineffective since suffering a high-ankle sprain during the first series of Florida’s season-opening win against Florida Atlantic. He returned in limited capacity Sept. 26 against Ole Miss and has since caught three passes for 50 yards.

The 5-foot-10, 184-yard senior arrived with 162 receptions for 2,002 yards and 12 touchdowns during three college seasons.

TJ Abrams, the team’s fifth receiver, has 10 catches for 180 yards and a touchdown, but caught just two passes for 14 yards against South Carolina.

Florida signed two promising freshmen in 2026, Davian Groce, a top-60 recruit out of Frisco, Texas, and Justin Williams, former Gainesville Buchholz rated in the nation’s top-200 prospects.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Source: Yahoo Sports