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Georgia HC Kirby Smart takes helicopter to visit 2026 5-star LB Tyler Atkinson

hunterby:Hunter Shelton•about 9 hours•

HunterShelton_

tyleratkinson

Georgia has been recruiting Lawrenceville (Ga.) Grayson five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson since he was in the eighth grade.

The Bulldogs have had the elite in-state talent to Athens numerous times already and Atkinson will be back on campus this weekend for UGA’s big junior day. Before that, though, head coach Kirby Smart made his way to Grayson High to spend some extra time with the five-star.

While the drive wouldn’t have taken long, Smart opted for helicopter as his method of travel to get to Grayson:

While the potential to make an impact at the in-state school is sticking out to Atkinson, it’s his relationships with the coaching staff that have UGA at the forefront of his recruitment to this point.

“I’ve been to Georgia a lot,” Atkinson told On3 in a recent interview. “I’m very cool with a lot of guys on the team. I’m very cool with the linebacker room. Coach Glenn Schumann… me being around him for so long has allowed us to build our relationship and allowed him to pour into me. He has coached three Butkus Award winners.

…He’s been around the best linebackers in the country and we have a great relationship. Coach Smart is a great coach. I’ve been around coach Kirby and he loves what I can do on the field. I have a good relationship with him. They treat me well up there and they keep giving me reasons to go back. It’s all love for Georgia.”

Around 40 Power Four programs have offered Atkinson. Auburn and Alabama aren’t far away and have also had him in for plenty of visits thus far. The linebacker isn’t close to cutting down his list of top schools just yet, though. Ohio State, Texas, Miami, USC and Oregon are among the other big names looking to make a splash with the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder.

“I’m an open book right now,” Atkinson said ahead of the Navy All-American Bowl. “I have not gotten far with coming up with a top five or a top 10. I’m still interested in schools that are contacting me a lot more. I’m really soaking it in and trying to figure out who I want to take my official visits to.”

Georgia will be a tough out in the end, though. The Dawgs currently have four commits in their 2026 class to date. Atkinson is the No. 9 recruit, No. 1 LB and No. 1 player in the Peach State in the cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Atkinson impressed at the Navy All-American Bowl this month

To no surprise, Atkinson was one of the top 2026 prospects in attendance at the Navy All-American Bowl earlier this month in San Antonio. His performances throughout the week caught the eyes of On3 National Scout Cody Bellaire:

“Linebacker is one of the tougher position groups to showcase during all-star practice. With that said, Tyler Atkinson was all over the field at the Navy All-American Bowl. The touted linebacker is known to have an elite motor. The athleticism and effort level were on full display during practice and Saturday’s game,” Bellaire wrote.

“Atkinson showed the ability to run sideline-to-sideline and hunt down ball-carriers. His ability to diagnose and trigger was extremely impressive. During the game, Atkinson was floating all over the field and constantly found himself around the football. He showed great range, making plays out wide and behind the line of scrimmage. The rising senior had a notably strong showing at a position that is infamous for flying under the radar at these events.”