Georgia Approaching Staggering 20th Visit With Highly Touted Star: Insider

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dave Holcomb | Last updated Jun 14, 2025 11:13 PM ET

The top-rated linebacker in the 2026 recruiting class lives about 40 miles from Athens, Georgia. That's made it extremely easy for the prospect to visit the Georgia Bulldogs.

Five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson, who is a Loganville, Georgia native, has taken advantage of that fact. On3's Chad Simmons wrote Friday that the linebacker has visited the Bulldogs close to two dozen times during his recruitment.

Atkinson was once again in Athens this weekend.

"He is less than an hour from Athens, he has visited Georgia close to 20 times and he is a major target for Smart, Glenn Schumann and the entire staff," Simmons wrote. "Oregon did a great job last weekend. We know Ohio State is doing all they can to get him to leave the Peach State.

"Georgia wants to keep Atkinson home and there will be some big discussions this weekend between the two parties as a summer decision approaches."

In addition to his visits, the linebacker said he communicates with the Georgia coaching staff regularly.

"Georgia, with Coach Schu, we talk all the time," Atkinson told 247Sports's Benjamin Wolk this spring. "We hung out with him and talked to Coach Kirby [Smart], and we talked to Coach Kirby out at the practice too. So it was good."

Breaking down another BIG weekend of OV in Athens. ...

The 5-star count is up to three, but there's also one unofficial visitor from 4,560 miles away who is also generating a lot of buzz.https://t.co/XNPFkQYkgJ pic.twitter.com/7FQ0K2bL3t
— Jeff Sentell (@jeffsentell) June 13, 2025

The Bulldogs are trying to keep Atkinson, who is the No. 1 Georgia prospect in the 2026 recruiting class according to the 247Sports composite rankings, in the state.

Atkinson has also visited the Clemson Tigers and Oregon Ducks this spring. He is also expected to see the Ohio State Buckeyes on an official visit.

The composite rankings rate Atkinson the No. 9 overall recruit in the 2026 recruiting class as well.

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

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