Nation's No. 1 LB Sends Texas, Steve Sarkisian Clear Message After Official Visit

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nate Lunak | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 3:03 PM ET

There's undoubtedly a lot of pressure falling on the Texas Longhorns heading into the 2025 season, as ESPN BET currently ties them and the Ohio State Buckeyes for the highest odds (+500) to win the national championship.

Despite that, though, head coach Steve Sarkisian has made it very clear that he and the rest of the program are still focused on bringing in talented high school recruits who won't be able to help until further in the future.

One name the Longhorns have been trying to land is class of 2026 linebacker Tyler Atkinson, who, in an article by On3's Steve Wiltfong, revealed what he thought of Texas after his official visit on Friday.

“Man, Texas has made my decision process really hard!” Atkinson said. “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... The biggest highlight this weekend was Coach Sark!"

Hearing that kind of praise is certainly good news for Sarkisian, as On3 Industry Rankings place Atkinson as a five-star recruit, the No. 1 linebacker, the No. 1 player in Georgia and the No. 8 player in the nation.

Last season, Atkinson was named a MaxPreps Junior All-American after appearing in 13 games, racking up 166 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, one interception and three pass deflections.

The Longhorns have a good amount of competition, though, as he has also taken official visits with the Clemson Tigers (May 30), the Oregon Ducks (June 6), and the Georgia Bulldogs (June 13).

If Texas can come out on top, though, Atkinson would be a key addition to their 2026 recruiting class, which already has 15 commitments, ranking No. 4 in the SEC and No. 10 in the nation, per On3.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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