This has not been a good month for Ohio State when it comes to recruiting. And they just lost an elite talent they were favored to land to the team they will face in Week 1 of the new season.
A month ago, it seemed like the Buckeyes were in the driver's seat for five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson. And it wasn't just a rumor. The Georgia native actually claimed in May that he appreciated the attention he received from head coach Ryan Day. And that Ohio State was No. 1 on his board .
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Well, that was then, and this is now. What the teenager suggested in May has now changed in July, and the stud recruit revealed on " The Pat McAfee Show " this week he is not heading to Columbus for his college career. He is instead going to the Texas Longhorns. The same team that Ohio State will play next month to open the 2025 season.
Making matters worse is OSU didn't even make his final four choices. Atkinson chose the Longhorns over homestate powerhouses Georgia and Clemson, and Oregon. His decision follows news this week that five-star running back Derrek Cooper is also likely leaning toward committing to a school that isn't named Ohio State.
Atkinson is ranked as the No. 1 LB in the nation and the ninth player overall on many recruiting lists. He's also the No. 1 player for the 2026 class from the state of Georgia. While it has been a rough last couple of weeks for the program's recruiting initiatives, coach Day has gotten 21 commitments for this class, including 5-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. and 5-star safety Blaine Bradford.
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