Tyler Atkinson, No. 14 overall in ESPN 300, commits to Texas - ESPN

Five-star recruit Tyler Atkinson, ESPN's No. 1 outside linebacker in the 2026 class, announced his commitment to Texas during an appearance on the «The Pat McAfee Show» on Tuesday, handing the Longhorns a coveted pledge over finalists Clemson, Georgia and Oregon .

Atkinson, who plays at Georgia's Grayson High School, is the No. 14 overall prospect in the 2026 ESPN 300 and one of the nation's most productive high school defenders. He follows No. 1 overall quarterback Dia Bell (No. 4 in the ESPN 300) and defensive end Richard Wesley (No. 11) as the third five-star recruit to join Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian's incoming recruiting class.

«What really told me to go to Texas was the coaches — the relationship piece, the atmosphere,» Atkinson told McAfee. «I feel like I just encompass everything I want at Texas...the way they have me playing is the best fit and that's why I chose Texas.»

Long favored to land with the Bulldogs, Atkinson's Longhorns pledge marks Texas' latest recruiting victory over its newly-minted SEC rivals, arriving just eight months after Sarkisian and Co. swooped in to beat Georgia to five-star in-state defensive tackle Justus Terry (No. 8 overall) in the 2025 class last December.

Atkinson, the No. 1 recruit in the state of Georgia in 2026, visited the Bulldogs more than a dozen times throughout his recruitment. ESPN sources continued to view Georgia as front-runners in his process into mid-June before Texas pulled level in the race following Atkinson's official visit weekend from June 20-22.

Sources close to the recruitment told ESPN that a tight battle between Texas and Georgia came down to the «small details» in recent days.

A three-year starter at Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia, Atkinson