October 5, 2024—a day Auburn fans wish they could erase from existence. That’s the night Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs turned the Tigers into gridiron roadkill. A 31-13 drubbing at Sanford Stadium sent Hugh Freeze’s squad back to the Plains with their tails between their legs. Total domination. A statement win. A gut-wrenching reality check.
And just when Auburn supporters thought they could finally move past the pain, Kirby Smart twisted the knife even deeper. Not satisfied with simply dismantling the Tigers on the field, Georgia is now plotting to rob them of one of their prized in-state recruiting targets—elite 5-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson.
The Bulldogs have rolled out the red carpet for Atkinson, and it’s not just a courtesy call. It’s a full-blown recruiting siege, and Auburn is scrambling to keep the kid they’ve been eyeing for months. But it’s not just Georgia that’s crashing Freeze’s party. Clemson’s Dabo Swinney is in the mix, and Coach Prime himself—Deion Sanders—has thrown his hat into the ring.
So now, the battle for Atkinson is officially on, and it’s shaping up to be one of the wildest recruiting wars in recent memory.
Kirby Smart’s Master Plan: Make Tyler Atkinson the Next Georgia Linebacker Legend
Georgia’s recruiting dominance under Kirby Smart is nothing short of terrifying. The Dawgs are fresh off yet another top-three class for 2025, and if history tells us anything, it’s that Smart doesn’t lose many battles for elite defenders—especially not linebackers.
Since taking over in Athens, Smart has built a linebacker factory, producing three Butkus Award winners—the ultimate sign of linebacker excellence. Just look at the names:
- Roquan Smith (Baltimore Ravens)
- Nakobe Dean (Philadelphia Eagles)
- Jalon Walker (off to the NFL)
That’s three legendary linebackers, and Kirby Smart is hunting for his fourth.
Enter Tyler Atkinson—a 6’2″, 210-pound tackling machine from Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia. The moment Atkinson burst onto the national scene, he had nearly 50 offers from the biggest programs in college football. But as of right now, all signs point to Georgia as the frontrunner.
Need proof? On March 10, Atkinson himself fueled the speculation with a cryptic but telling tweet:
“I will be AtkkNup tomorrow in Athens!”
That message sent Georgia fans into a recruiting frenzy, and it didn’t take long for top analyst Chad Simmons to amplify the hype, resharing it with the caption:
“Major in-state target for Kirby and co.”
And make no mistake—Kirby Smart is pulling out all the stops. The Bulldogs kick off spring practice on March 18, and they’re making sure Atkinson gets an up-close-and-personal look at what life in Athens would be like.
How serious is Smart about landing Atkinson? Well, back on January 18, he literally hopped in a helicopter and flew out to visit him.
That’s not a casual recruiting pitch—that’s a declaration of war.
After the visit, Atkinson tweeted:
“Great time with Coach Kirby & my parents today.”
Translation: Georgia’s making a major impression, and Auburn’s grip on him is slipping fast.
Hugh Freeze’s Recruiting Nightmare: Can Auburn Survive the Onslaught?
While Georgia is making an all-out push, Hugh Freeze is trapped in a recruiting warzone.
- On one front, he’s battling Kirby Smart.
- On another, Dabo Swinney is lurking.
- And just when it looked like a two-man race, Deion Sanders swaggered in to shake things up.
Freeze has been after Atkinson since July 2024, and for a while, it looked like Auburn had a real shot.
Atkinson himself admitted it after attending Auburn’s Big Cat Weekend, saying:
“Auburn sits very high. They sit super high. They’re a very good school, very good coaching staff.”
That quote had Tigers fans dreaming big, but it didn’t take long for reality to hit.
Enter Coach Prime.
Deion Sanders, always one for theatrics, decided to do things his way. Instead of a traditional visit, he set up a high-energy Zoom call with Atkinson, laying down his vision for what the linebacker could become at Colorado.
Atkinson was clearly impressed, tweeting afterward:
“Good time with Coach Prime. I appreciate the time & conversation with Coach Sanders today. #GoBuffs #AtkNup.”
Just like that, Auburn had another competitor in the fight.
And then came Clemson.
Dabo Swinney, known for playing the long game, is taking a highly strategic approach. Instead of just offering a generic pitch, Clemson crafted a detailed plan specifically for Atkinson, calling it the “AtkNup Plan.”
Every detail was mapped out. Every concern addressed. Every opportunity laid out before him.
That’s the kind of recruiting precision that puts Auburn in a serious bind.
The Final Showdown: Will Georgia Close the Deal?
So here’s where things stand:
- Kirby Smart is making Atkinson priority No. 1. He’s throwing Georgia’s linebacker legacy at him, and the Dawgs are clearly leading the race.
- Hugh Freeze is fighting for his life to keep Auburn in the picture, but with Georgia, Clemson, and Colorado all pushing hard, the odds are stacked against him.
- Dabo Swinney’s “AtkNup Plan” is putting pressure on everyone. Clemson isn’t just making a pitch—they’re selling a clear, detailed vision.
- Deion Sanders is lurking. And if anyone knows how to flip a recruit at the last second, it’s Coach Prime.
Atkinson’s final decision could shift the balance of power in the SEC and beyond. Will Kirby Smart win another major recruiting battle and add yet another monster linebacker to Georgia’s dynasty?
Or will Hugh Freeze pull off a miracle, fending off the wolves that are circling his prized recruit?
One thing’s for sure—this recruiting war is far from over. And in the end, only one coach is going to be celebrating.
