Earlier this month, Clemson was overwhelmed by Texas A&M for DE Bryce Perry-Wright of Buford, GA. Tuesday, one other prospect Dabo Swinney and his defensive workers recruited for months, LB Tyler Atkinson of Loganville, GA, introduced a dedication to Texas.
Like Clemson, Georgia was additionally closely concerned with each gamers. Tuesday at SEC Media Days, previous to Atkinson’s announcement, Georgia coach Kirby Sensible made some extent of claiming he and his program don’t have interaction in transactional recruiting, preferring to construct relationships with gamers and their households and win them over with their coronary heart and never their again account.
Swinney preaches the identical method. However on this new period of shopping for recruits, can the Tigers survive? Gamers like Perry-Wright and Atkinson, who make an official go to to Clemson and undergo the recruiting course of with the Tigers, normally are slam dunks for Swinney. Not any extra.
Of the 11 non-committed targets who have been at Clemson for the massive recruiting weekend of Could 30-June 2, seven have dedicated to different colleges. That’s a low hit share for an OV weekend for Clemson.
Atkinson had a remaining group of Clemson, Georgia, Texas and Oregon. These have been his 4 official visits. His relationship with Clemson goes again years. He made visits for a junior day and a sport in 2023 and 2024. He additionally visited in March of this 12 months for the Elite Retreat.
Atkinson saved his recruiting info personal all through, so there was no actual really feel on his pondering till Monday evening with On3 analysts publicized projections to Texas. Whether or not his choice go joni the Longhorns was based mostly totally on relationships or a transaction, solely Atkinson and his inside circle know, they usually aren’t saying.
Clemson stays at 21 commitments for the 2026 class which doesn’t but embrace a linebacker. Their are two uncommitted linebackers remaining on the Clemson board. One is Atkinson’s teammate, Anthony Davis, who’s right down to Ole Miss, Alabama, Michigan and Auburn with an August 2nd announcement date.
The opposite is Duyon Forkpa (6-2 220) of IMG Academy. The Tigers reoffered him on Could twenty ninth. In June he took official visits to Florida, Florida State, Miami and Michigan.
