5-star LB Tyler Atkinson to announce commitment tomorrow

Five days ago, Lawrenceville (Ga.) Grayson five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson officially named his final four schools. A decision date was expected to soon follow for the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder.

That date has been locked in — and it’s coming fast. Atkinson will announce his decision tomorrow, July 15, live on The Pat McAfee Show, according to Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett. He will choose between Clemson, Georgia, Oregon and Texas.

Atkinson is the No. 9 overall prospect in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 1 player in Georgia.

All four programs have worked tirelessly to get Atkinson on their pledge list this summer. He logged official visits to each last month, with each making a splash of some sort, giving the elite linebacker plenty to think about.

Georgia, the in-state juggernaut, has long been viewed as the favorite. Dethroning the Bulldogs won’t be an easy task, though Texas has garnered some steam down the stretch, too. Oregon has been a top contender for some time, while Clemson has long-standing relationships with Atkinson.

Atkinson talks his four finalists

After logging each of his OVs, Rivals’ Chad Simmons caught up with Atkinson to break down each trip:

Clemson: “The overall visit was incredible and Clemson was more than welcoming to me … It was the meaning of priority … The way they plan on playing me in the AtkNup packages on defense really stood out … I loved the family vibes there and the way my family felt on campus. Also, the potential class of teammates I could have if I go to Clemson is really strong.”

Oregon: “I really don’t have any words to describe the feeling from this visit other than, ‘They really believe in me … The entire visit was an experience from beginning to end. I love the “AtkNup Plan” for me and the love they showed my family … We had a lot of great experiences that were non-football … Coach Tosh showed me some new fishing tips. Coach Lanning helped get my golf swing right, and Coach B-Mike always fed my football appetite. They did everything they could to show me how much I belonged, and I felt it.”

Georgia: “That consistency has been big with Georgia … For me and my family, it has been all about the consistency. Not much has changed at all. That always stands out about Georgia … This was definitely an official visit that I will never forget. I have been there so much, but the crazy thing is that I still saw and learned some new things. It was kind of like a movie you have seen over and over, but there is always something new to pop out.”

Texas: “My OV to Texas was eye-opening … 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. I am blessed to have some great options to choose from.”