Earlier this month, Clemson was beaten by Texas A&M for DE Bryce Perry-Wright of Buford, GA. Tuesday, another prospect Dabo Swinney and his defensive staff recruited for months, LB Tyler Atkinson of Loganville, GA, announced a commitment to Texas.
Like Clemson, Georgia was also heavily involved with both players. Tuesday at SEC Media Days, prior to Atkinson’s announcement, Georgia coach Kirby Smart made a point of saying he and his program do not engage in transactional recruiting, preferring to build relationships with players and their families and win them over with their heart and not their back account.
Swinney preaches the same approach. But in this new era of buying recruits, can the Tigers survive? Players like Perry-Wright and Atkinson, who make an official visit to Clemson and go through the recruiting process with the Tigers, usually are slam dunks for Swinney. Not any more.
Of the 11 non-committed targets who were at Clemson for the big recruiting weekend of May 30-June 2, seven have committed to other schools. That’s a low hit percentage for an OV weekend for Clemson.
Atkinson had a final group of Clemson, Georgia, Texas and Oregon. Those were his four official visits. His relationship with Clemson goes back years. He made visits for a junior day and a game in 2023 and 2024. He also visited in March of this year for the Elite Retreat.
Atkinson kept his recruiting information private throughout, so there was no real feel on his thinking until Monday night with On3 analysts publicized projections to Texas. Whether his decision go joni the Longhorns was based primarily on relationships or a transaction, only Atkinson and his inner circle know, and they aren’t saying.
Clemson remains at 21 commitments for the 2026 class which does not yet include a linebacker. Their are two uncommitted linebackers remaining on the Clemson board. One is Atkinson’s teammate, Anthony Davis, who is down to Ole Miss, Alabama, Michigan and Auburn with an August 2nd announcement date.
The other is Duyon Forkpa (6-2 220) of IMG Academy. The Tigers reoffered him on May 29th. In June he took official visits to Florida, Florida State, Miami and Michigan.