Tyler Atkinson has made a big choice. The top football player in Georgia will swap his home state for the Texas Longhorns. He shared this decision live on The Pat McAfee Show.
Ranked ninth overall in the country by 247Sports, Atkinson is also the number one linebacker. His talent caught the eye of many schools, but Georgia showed the most interest early on, offering him a spot when he was just in eighth grade. At Grayson High School, he played a key role in leading his team’s defense to a state championship. Last season, he recorded 166 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks.
Atkinson’s final options were Georgia, Texas, Oregon, and Clemson. Despite Georgia’s long-standing connection, Texas made a strong late impression. He spent time training in Texas last June, which gave him a feel for the area.
This isn’t the first time Georgia and Texas have clashed over top recruits. In 2024, Georgia secured Justin Williams, the top linebacker from Conroe, Texas. Texas has also been able to pull some top talent from Georgia, such as Justus Terry, a strong recruit from Manchester.
In this cycle, Georgia has already landed four-star defensive lineman James Johnson and four-star defensive back Chace Calicut, who is originally from Texas. Another star recruit, five-star running back Derrek Cooper, will announce his decision soon, and he’s considering Georgia as well.
Despite losing Atkinson, Georgia still has a solid foundation, with 29 commitments, including 16 local players. They’ve secured four-star linebacker Shadarius Toodle and are eyeing other prospects like Nick Abrams, who is announcing soon as well, with Georgia in a tight race against Oregon.
Georgia’s future looks bright at linebacker. They’ve previously signed the top linebacker in the past two recruiting classes, including Zayden Walker for 2025. Critical veterans like CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson are expected to lead the team, alongside younger prospects like Williams and Chris Cole.
Georgia’s linebacker coach, Glenn Schumann, is highly regarded for his track record, producing three Butkus Award winners and multiple first-round picks. His success places him among the best in college football coaching.
This constant back-and-forth between schools illustrates a changing landscape in college recruiting, where state lines don’t always dictate where the best talent ends up. The competition is fierce, and both Texas and Georgia are proving they know how to attract top-tier athletes.
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