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Bad news hits Ohio State as crucial five-star target appears to cancel visit to Columbus for trip to a big SEC program

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 1:14 PM ET

Ohio State currently holds 15 commitments in the class of 2026 and boasts the No. 3 recruiting class in the country, according to 247Sports. The Buckeyes are in the midst of a crucial month of June, having hosted numerous top targets on official visits.

This upcoming weekend is shaping up to be another major recruiting event in Columbus. At one point, it was expected that five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson—Ohio State’s top target at the position—would be among the visitors. That is no longer the case.

Buckeyes appear to be out of the race for five-star LB Tyler Atkinson

The Buckeyes were once seen as a strong contender to land Atkinson, the No. 1 linebacker in the 2026 class. However, he will not be visiting Columbus this weekend and is instead headed to Texas.

NEWS: Five-Star LB Tyler Atkinson will take an Official Visit to Texas this weekend, he tells me for @on3recruits

He’s one of the Top Overall Recruits in the 2026 Class (No. 1 LB)https://t.co/TXMdmX9QhY pic.twitter.com/paPlrpAaWg
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 18, 2025

The race for Atkinson now seems to be a battle between Texas and Georgia. The five-star prospect, a Georgia native, has been training in Texas with former Longhorns linebacker Derrick Johnson—further strengthening Texas’ case in his recruitment.

Ohio State currently has one linebacker committed in the class: in-state three-star CJ Sanna. The Buckeyes may be in line for more good news soon. Four-star LB Cincere Johnson is set to announce his decision on Thursday, choosing between Ohio State and Alabama. The Buckeyes are heavily expected to land the Glenville (OH) product.

With Atkinson no longer planning to take an official visit to Ohio State, it’s safe to say the Buckeyes are now on the outside looking in when it comes to his recruitment.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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