Kirby Smart has built a recruiting empire in Athens but even the best gets tested. And right now, Georgia’s priority target in the 2026 class – 5-star LB Tyler Atkinson – is putting the Bulldogs’ dominance to the test. The nation’s No. 9 overall prospect has a Georgia lean, but let’s be real. Landing elite talents in modern college football takes more than just a strong pitch and a winning culture. Does Georgia have it in them to lock in this explosive talent?

A minimal six-figure offer might just not make the cut for Tyler Atkinson as Steve Wiltfong reported on On3 Recruits on February 13. But the message is still clear — Georgia is a team to beat in the pursuit of the No. 1 LB in the 2026 class. “The intel coaches around these programs, behind the scenes they say Georgia is going to be tough to beat,” Wiltfong reported. “He visited Georgia shortly after they won the National Championship for a Georgia playoff practice. He returned for Junior Day last month. Kirby Smart came by the school, Glenn Schumann then came by the school himself.”

Both Kirby Smart and LB coach Glenn Schumann have made Tyler Atkinson a priority, and so far, the effort is paying off. But Ohio State and Auburn are still in the mix. The 6’2, 205-pounder has already been to Columbus for visits last March and June and he feels that the Buckeyes are “really impressive.” Auburn is another leading follower of the Loganville Grayson HS standout. Despite this, Georgia still leads the recruitment race. But there’s a warning for Kirby Smart as recruiting isn’t just about relationships anymore — it’s about the bag! 

Steve Wiltfong didn’t mince words — “NIL is obviously a factor for him. He’s got an Adidas deal. I mean he’s one of the most prominent NIL athletes in this class. I don’t know if like a 100,000 here and a 100,000 there is going to like settle a recruitment where National Signing Day show how did Justus Terry end up at Texas.” Last June, Tyler Atkinson inked a major NIL deal with Adidas making him one of the top high school NIL earners with a valuation of over $200,000. So, if Georgia doesn’t want to see a repeat of the Terry heartbreak, they better be ready to splurge heavily on him. 

Why Georgia should invest in Tyler Atkinson 

Steve Sarkisian gave a huge blow to Kirby Smart when he lured the 5-star DL over to Texas with a “just a straight-up better NIL package” as Chad Simmons reported. It should be a lesson for Georgia and they should be ready to shell out some big bucks for this blue-chip weapon who already has a six-figure NIL valuation. He’s not going to come cheap, that’s obvious, and if Georgia wants to close the deal, they’ll need to flex their finances.

Tyler Atkinson isn’t just any other prospect — the MaxPreps National Junior Player of the Year is a tried-and-tested defensive weapon. He led Grayson to a state title, dominating the GHSA 6A finals with eight tackles, three TFLs, two sacks, and a pass breakup against Carrollton and elite QB Julian Lewis. This complemented his overall season stats with 166 tackles, 46 QB hurries, 32 TFLs, and 13 sacks. Impressive? But he produced even better numbers in his sophomore season with 197 tackles, 25 TFLs, and 10.5 sacks. His three-year stats are absurd — 475 tackles, 93 QB hurries, 79 TFLs, and 31.5 sacks! 

Tyler Atkinson checks every box for Georgia. But in 2025, checking boxes isn’t enough — you have to cut the check. Kirby Smart may have the advantage but if they don’t want to encounter another Justus Terry situation, they need to make sure their NIL strategy is as elite as their recruiting pitch.