Longhorns land top linebacker in the country in Tyler Atkinson

Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns continued their rise in the 2026 recruiting rankings last week with the commitment of 4-star CB Samari “Smoke” Matthews, rising to No. 9 in 247Sports’ Team Recruiting Rankings. That ranking will unquestionably rise today, with the Longhorns sealing a commitment from the nation’s top linebacker in 5-star prospect Tyler Atkinson (Grayson High School, Loganville, Georgia).

Atkinson whittled his school choices down to four, with Texas beating out the Georgia Bulldogs, Oregon and Clemson. Co-Defensive Coordinator Johnny Nansen and EDGE coach LaAllen Clark were instrumental in Atkinson’s decision to play football at the next level in Austin, TX. He joins former Grayson High School product and Class of 2025 OT Nick Brooks in wearing burnt orange on Saturdays.

Atkinson is ranked as the No. 1 player in the state of Georgia, the No. 1 linebacker and ninth best player overall in the country according to the 247Sports Composite Recruiting Rankings.

He becomes the 19th commit in the Longhorns’ recruiting class and is the highest nationally ranked recruit in the class.