The chase for Tyler Atkinson, one of the top players in the 2026 recruiting class, continues.

The five-star linebacker (Grayson, GA) was back in Clemson last month for the first time in a year for the Elite Retreat. With the hiring of Tom Allen as defensive coordinator and Ben Boulware being promoted to linebackers coach, Atkinson has a renewed interest in the Tigers.

One of Boulware’s first stops during the contact period after the promotion was to see Atkinson. Head coach Dabo Swinney and defensive assistant Mickey Conn accompanied Boulware on the visit.

“People always talk about how different Clemson is, and I honestly agree,” Atkinson told The Clemson Insider recently. “Clemson’s feel is just different, and they check a lot of my boxes for sure.”

After helping lead Grayson to a 6A state title in the state of Georgia, he was an Army-Navy Bowl participant earlier this year while also winning the MaxPreps National Junior of the Year Award.

Atkinson finished his junior campaign with 166 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 46 quarterback hurries, an interception and a forced fumble.

Some of the other spring visits Atkinson took included Oregon, Southern Cal and Georgia. This weekend he heads off to Ohio State.

The next step for Clemson is getting the five-star talent back on campus for the big official visit weekend from May 30 to June 1. That visit has yet to be locked in.

The 247 Composite ranks Atkinson No. 7 overall, No. 1 among all linebackers and No. 1 in the state of Georgia.

Atkinson could make a decision sometime in the summer after he takes all of his official visits.

Photo courtesy of Tyler Atkinson on X (formerly known as Twitter) @Tyler16Atkinson