Ohio State linebacker target Tyler Atkinson in primetime action
COLUMBUS — Ohio State is no stranger to playing in prime time. But what about its commits and targets?
Well, 2026 five-star Loganville (Ga) Grayson linebacker Tyler Atkinson gets his time under the spotlight. Grayson kicks off its season on ESPN 2 with an 8 p.m. kick against Thompson High in Alabama.
Atkinson had 197 total tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 23 quarterback hurries, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one blocked field goal as a sophomore. He’s the No. 11 overall prospect and the No. 1 linebacker in the On3 Industry Rankings. On3 has Atkinson as the No. 21 overall prospect and the No. 1 linebacker. He is the top-rated prospect in Georgia per the On3 Industry Rankings and the No. 2 Georgia prospect per On3.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Peach State native holds 43 offers with Georgia leading the way in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. Atkinson has visited Ohio State three times in his recruitment, most recently in March and June of this year.
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“I like the coaches up there,” Atkinson told On3. “I love coach James Laurinaitis and coach Ryan Day is a good person. The thing I like most about Ohio State is the coaches there and then, I also like the feeling there. I like the vibe up there. It’s very good. I like the scheme.
“When I go up there, I talk ball with them. They have good players. They’re trying to win it all this year, so there’s high energy up there. That’s why I like it every time I go there.”
Atkinson is expected to make a game-day visit to Ohio State this fall. That will be a critical visit for him and the Buckeyes as Laurinaitis tries to pry the best out of Georgia into Ohio.
Other Ohio State targets are expected to play on ESPN throughout the weekend.
