Five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson is set to reveal his decision Tuesday on The Pat McAfee Show. Oregon is among the elite programs still in contention for his commitment.
Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks have been rolling on the recruiting trail this offseason, and they might not be done just yet.
With two five-star recruits already committed for the class of 2026, Oregon now has its sights set on linebacker Tyler Atkinson—one of the top prospects in the country. According to Hayes Fawcett of Rivals and On3, Atkinson will announce his decision live on The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, July 15.
Oregon made the final cut, along with Georgia, Texas, and Clemson.
Most signs point to Georgia as the favorite, but don’t count out the Ducks. They’re already sitting at No. 12 in 247Sports’ recruiting rankings for 2026, and landing Atkinson would send them surging even higher.
If he picks the Ducks, Atkinson would become the highest-rated player in the Ducks’ class—just ahead of five-star safety Jett Washington, who’s ranked No. 18 nationally. Landing both would give Lanning a serious boost on the defensive side of the ball, and a foundation to chase something bigger.
That kind of momentum on defense would be hard to ignore. For a program that’s consistently been in the mix but still searching for its first national title, stacking elite talent like this is how that next step gets taken.
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Atkinson comes in at No. 9 overall in the 247Sports Composite and is considered the top linebacker in the country.
He’s also the highest-rated recruit in Georgia and one of just a handful of players in the class with a 99 grade. If Oregon can land him, it would be one of Lanning’s biggest wins on the trail so far—and a strong sign the Ducks are gaining ground on college football’s heavyweights.
A commitment from Atkinson wouldn’t just boost the class ranking—it would send a message to the rest of the country that Oregon’s building something serious.
Category: General Sports
