Tyler Atkinson, 5-star linebacker, trims list to 10

Grayson (Georgia) five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson is one of the nation's most coveted prospects in the class of 2026.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound 'backer has already accumulated nearly 40 scholarship offers from many of the nation's biggest programs.

On Wednesday, however, Atkinson took a step toward cutting down his list, announcing a group of 10 semifinalist: Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Atkinson is a storied recruit already, as he was the first eighth grader ever to earn an invite to the All-America Bowl. 

As a freshman at powerhouse Grayson he backed up the hype, racking up 112 tackles, 22 tackles-for-loss, eight sacks and four pass break-ups.

During the early part of his recruitment, Atkinson has visited several programs, including Alabama, Arizona State, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, North Carolina State, South Florida and others.

While it's far too early to speculate where he'll end up, Georgia may have the inside track given proximity to home and their current status as back-to-back defending national champions.

Still, making the top 10 is a major hurdle, as Atkinson is arguably the nation's most coveted young 'backer.

Sophomore season highlights