Clemson Surging in Battle With Georgia, Ohio State for Elite 2026 LB

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeremy Lockett | Last updated May 21, 2025 8:00 AM ET

Clemson is about to take a major swing at landing one of the most coveted prospects in the 2026 recruiting class.

Five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson — the No. 1 linebacker and No. 9 overall player in the country, per the 247Sports Composite — has confirmed he will take an official visit to Clemson from May 30 to June 1. This will be the Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) star’s first official stop of the summer.

“Clemson was one of my Top 10 schools before they even offered me,” Atkinson said, underlining the strong foundation already in place between the Tigers and one of the nation’s most electric defenders.

Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 215 pounds, Atkinson was a dominant force during his junior season, leading Grayson to a Georgia Class 6A state championship. He piled up 166 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 46 quarterback hurries, an interception, and a forced fumble.

He also earned the MaxPreps National Junior of the Year award and was named Class 6A Defensive Player of the Year by both Score Atlanta and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

While Clemson is securing one of the most important visits of Atkinson’s recruitment, the battle is far from over. He’s kept his full visit slate private, but Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State are expected to also receive official visits. A final decision is anticipated before the start of his senior year.

The Tigers are working to close the gap on Georgia, which has long been considered a front-runner in Atkinson’s recruitment. But this upcoming visit could be a game-changer for a Clemson program that has surged on the recruiting trail with a focus on elite defensive talent.

Atkinson’s growing profile also extends into the NIL space, where he holds a $211,000 valuation from On3 and has already inked a deal with Legends Apparel. That commercial appeal, combined with his on-field accolades and leadership ability, makes him one of the most important targets in the 2026 cycle — and Clemson has a real shot to make a major impression in just over a week.

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

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