Lawrenceville (Ga.) Grayson five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson has committed to Texas, he announced Tuesday on The Pat McAfee Show.
It’s a mammoth addition for head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns. Despite in-state Georgia being a top contender for a long time, Atkinson is now set to head to Austin at the next level. Oregon and Clemson were the other finalists for the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder.
Atkinson is the No. 9 overall prospect and No. 1 LB in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the top-ranked recruit in the Peach State.
For some time, Atkinson choosing Georgia felt inevitable. The Bulldogs are right in the backyard and have had the elite prospect on campus more times than he can count. As the time came to enter the crucial phases of his recruitment, though, Texas often popped up as a program of primary interest.
He’s been to The Forty Acres plenty, too. The Lone Star State program received the last of his four official visits last month — and while not the deciding factor, that visit made a real impact on Atkinson’s recruitment.
“My OV to Texas was eye-opening,” Atkinson previously told Rivals’ Chad Simmons. “This could be my last visit before I make the right choice, and I really feel it was a great decision to visit there. This was my fourth visit with the Longhorns outside of pretty much living in Austin the past month for training.
…I have made some great connections there for sure. Coach Sark and the entire staff made me feel like a priority and that I could be a key piece to the defense. I feel really good about Texas, and they are one of my top schools to consider.”
Time spent around the Texas program was fresh on his mind when naming his final four programs last week. He quickly locked in his commitment date yesterday and is now in the fold for the Longhorns.
The addition of Atkinson gives Texas its third five-star pledge this cycle, as he now joins Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage quarterback Dia Bell and Los Angeles Sierra Canyon EDGE Richard Wesley. The Longhorns now have a top-10 class in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.
Atkinson tallied 166 total tackles, 13 sacks and an interception as a junior for Grayson. He has 475 tackles and 31 sacks across three seasons for the Rams.
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