National Signing Day is just hours away, and Deion Sanders knows it. The Colorado Buffaloes head coach has gone into “recruiting mode” by snatching Auburn’s spot in line for one of the top defensive recruits, linebacker Tyler Atkinson.
The linebacker, hailing from Grayson High School, is one of the most sought-after players in this recruiting period. So far, 43 programs have shown interest in landing Atkinson, and many of them have already made initial contact with the player, including Sanders and Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze.
However, even Coach Prime doesn’t have it easy. Georgia appears to be leading the race to land the player after defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann visited the Atkinsons’ home. And the Bulldogs aren’t the only ones; behind them are Alabama, Ohio State, Florida State, USC, and of course, Colorado.
Coach Prime’s bold move
Deion Sanders has a reputation for being an aggressive and charismatic recruiter. That’s how he managed to snatch Julian Lewis from the hands of the USC Trojans. A video call on Zoom was more than enough for Coach Prime to dazzle Atkinson, who boasted about the meeting on his social media.
“Good time with Coach Prime,” the player wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I appreciate the time & conversation with Coach Sanders today. #GoBuffs #AtkNup.” Coach Freeze and Auburn were at the top of the list until a few weeks ago, but Sanders’ emergence could change the whole panorama, even for Georgia.
Atkinson is looking for more than just NIL money to choose a program; loyalty and commitment are at the top of his list. “I really want to make sure I get it right [his decision], because I’m going to give that program my all, just like I do at Grayson, and I want to know the school I pick will give their all, too.”
What are Coach Prime’s chances?
The race is closer than ever. While Sanders and Colorado offer the commitment and loyalty Atkinson is looking for, other programs can offer him the same, plus a juicy NIL deal package.
Grayson’s prospect announced that he will soon release a list of his top five or six choices. The recruiting period begins with National Signing Day on Feb. 5 but extends for a month. This means the real battle for Atkinson and the top recruits is barely beginning.