This Sentell’s Intel rep on Georgia football recruiting has the latest with 5-star LB Tyler Atkinson. He ranks as the nation’s No. 1 LB and the No. 9 overall prospect for 2025 on the 247Sports Composite. The On3 Industry Ranking has him as the No. 1 LB and at No. 10 overall.
The nation’s No. 1 LB Tyler Atkinson is different. Even among the top prospects in the country for the 2026 cycle.
The rising high school junior has already signed an “NIL” deal with Adidas and has used his “NIL” opportunities to help put on a youth football camp earlier this year.
His aggressiveness and intensity is the straw that stirs the drink for a Grayson defense that looks to have one of its all-time teams this fall. The Rams look to have enough players on its front to stock at least two state title contenders in Georgia’s high school classification this fall.
Atkinson and his person “AtkNup” brand have flashed a great deal of talent very early in his prep career. DawgNation was aware of him when he was an eighth-grade prospect and he’s fulfilled his vast potential at every step of the way.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder had 197 tackles, 25 tackles for losses and 10.5 sacks in 2023. That pushed his career total already past the 300-mark with two seasons of varsity play left to go.
It wouldn’t be outlandish to project Atkinson to finish his prep career with 650 tackles or more.
When he gives an answer about being focused on his season and Grayson’s championship goals, it is believable.
But he will share a few layers of insight into what’s going on with the major priority for the Bulldogs in the 2026 cycle.
A commitment from Atkinson would be a centerpiece for what Georgia hopes to build with another top-rated class in the 2026 cycle.
The 5-star is planning just one trip for later this month when the dead period relaxes for a few days just before the start of fall camp for both high schools and college football.
That will be to check out Miami.
“I think I am going to Miami,” Atkinson said. “I’m just looking for the coaching staff. Just to see how good the coaching staff is and to meet the linebacker coach in person at his campus. Just go out there and see what they are talking about and have a good experience.”
Atkinson feels that will be his only visit this month before the season starts up.
The summer news revolving around Atkinson has been with Ohio State of late. There has been some activity on his social media (at least three videos) that feature Atkinson with 5-star WR Chris Henry Jr. (an Ohio State verbal) and DL Jahkeem Stewart out of Louisiana.
What has he seen this summer that will help shape his recruiting process?
“I’ve been to a couple of schools,” he said. “I’ve really been focused on this season. My junior season. I’ve just been focusing on the main thing and the schools I am interested in I’ve been talking with them and staying intact with them, too.”
That’s interesting to keep an eye on given that Auburn, FSU, Georgia and Ohio State have long been seen as teams to watch out for in this recruitment.
He still has a Top 10 from September of 2023 pinned to his “X” social media account. That includes the likes of Alabama, Clemson, LSU, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas along with those other four programs.
Atkinson has told DawgNation in the past that some of those schools have dropped off and others have moved in to his top group but he has yet to make any formal declaration.
Tyler Atkinson: How does he feel about Georgia football?
Atkinson doesn’t have a public decision timeline. It would be surprising if he has a rough estimate of a private timeline.
But it is always worth getting a sense of how he feels about the Dawgs. Especially heading into his junior season.
When it comes to Georgia, it is all about “Coach Schu” here. Georgia defensive coordinator and LBs coach Glenn Schumann has been a fixture in his recruitment for years.
“I talk to ‘Coach Schu’ all the time,” Atkinson said. “He always sends me good film and we were on the phone the other day just talking. Going over stuff. ‘Coach Schu’ is a good coach. They are going to have a good year this year and I can’t wait to see them play.”
What does he like best about Georgia at this time?
“I’d definitely say the coaches and how hard the players work and everybody wants to be good over there,” Atkinson said.
If we’re being honest, the strength of the UGA roster and its future depth charts has reached the point where the Bulldogs experience more than their fair share of negative recruiting. Coaches at other schools will tell key UGA targets they will just be a number in Athens or they will get lost in the crowd of All-Americans and 5-stars at their position.
Georgia signed three of the nation’s top 8 LBs in the 2023 class. “Coach Schu” then added a pair of 5-star All-American signees in the 2024 class in Chris Cole and Justin Williams. Georgia has also already earned the commitment of 5-star LB Zayden Walker in the 2025 clas.
Walker is the No. 1 LB for the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s No. 2 for the 247Sports Composite. Williams was the consensus No. 1 LB for the 2024 class. Cole was the consensus No. 3 LB in the same cycle.
Does a stacked depth chart like that concern Atkinson?
“My main focus coming in is I know what I can do and I know what I can bring to the table,” he said. “I just come in and I’m ready to work in everything that I do. Depth chart doesn’t matter because I know I can come in and be the next guy and learn the playbook as fast as anybody too so that doesn’t matter.”
SENTELL’S INTEL
(check on the recent reads on Georgia football recruiting)
