Tristen Keys, a five-star wide receiver from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is showing growing interest in Alabama football after receiving an offer from the Crimson Tide in September.
Keys, a standout 2026 prospect, shared his enthusiasm about the program and the relationship he’s building with Alabama’s wide receiver coach, JaMarcus Shephard.
“I had a lot of great talks with him,” Keys said in an interview with Touchdown Alabama. “He came to visit me at my school, and that’s my guy—very energetic, and that’s what I like from a receiver coach. Someone I could chill with every day, and we just have fun. And when it’s time to be serious, we’re serious.”
Keys plans to visit Alabama in January after postponing a trip initially planned for the Georgia game during the 2024 season. He expressed admiration for Alabama’s commitment to playing freshmen, citing Ryan Williams’ breakout season as a freshman wide receiver.
“I like they played a lot of freshmen this year,” Keys said. “Those freshmen contributed to the team. Things didn’t go their way this year, but that’s football—new coaching staff. I still think they did pretty good and worked pretty hard.”
Alabama’s tradition of producing NFL-caliber wide receivers also appeals to Keys.
“They produce a lot of great receivers, and it’s a lot of WRUs, but I feel like [Alabama] is one of them. They’ve produced a lot of first-round receivers.”
Standing at 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, Keys is known for his explosive releases, precise route-running, and ability to create separation.
As he continues evaluating his options, Alabama remains a strong contender for the talented playmaker.
