NIL
Clemson Facing NIL Test as New Threat Emerges for 5-Star LB Tyler Atkinson
Clemson Facing NIL Test as New Threat Emerges for 5-Star LB Tyler Atkinson originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Clemson is in for a fight if it wants to land one of the nation’s top defensive players. Advertisement Five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson has wrapped up his official visits, and the Tigers—who hosted him first in June—remain […]

Clemson Facing NIL Test as New Threat Emerges for 5-Star LB Tyler Atkinson originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Clemson is in for a fight if it wants to land one of the nation’s top defensive players.
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Five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson has wrapped up his official visits, and the Tigers—who hosted him first in June—remain in the mix. But the dynamic around his recruitment may be shifting, and Clemson’s traditional recruiting model could soon face its toughest NIL-era challenge yet.
Atkinson, the No. 1 linebacker and a top-10 overall prospect in the 2026 class, kicked off his June with a visit to Clemson. That early positioning gave Dabo Swinney’s staff an important window to make a lasting impression, one built on player development, culture, and a no-nonsense approach to the transfer portal and NIL.
But the college football world is evolving—and fast.
Following stops at Oregon and Georgia, Atkinson’s final visit to Texas has stirred national buzz. According to On3’s Steve Wiltfong, the Longhorns may now be the biggest threat to Georgia’s standing as the perceived leader.
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“I think you could look at Texas as the biggest threat to Georgia,” Wiltfong said in a recent update, highlighting that this recruitment may be far from over.
Texas’ late push has some wondering whether Clemson can keep pace in an NIL-driven race. Atkinson recently signed a high-profile NIL deal as part of Adidas new Adizero class, placing him among a select group of high school athletes already earning national branding deals. For a player already building his name off the field, the allure of an NIL-friendly environment could be pivotal.
That’s where Clemson’s challenge becomes clear. Swinney has built his program on stability and long-term growth, not flashy offers or short-term financial gain. While the Tigers have NIL infrastructure in place, their more controlled, culture-first approach often contrasts with the aggressive NIL strategies seen at places like Georgia, Oregon, and Texas.
Grayson High School linebacker Tyler Atkinson.© Lori Schmidt / Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Still, Clemson has a track record of developing elite defenders and sending them to the NFL. If Atkinson values a proven pipeline and the kind of environment that has helped many Clemson stars thrive, the Tigers can still be a real contender.
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Whether that’s enough in today’s recruiting climate remains to be seen. Clemson was the first school to get him on campus this summer; that first impression could still matter, or Atkinson may have been wowed by everyone else since.
As no decision time has been made, Clemson remains in the race. But now, it’s clear they’ll need to overcome not just SEC rivals—but the shifting winds of NIL as well.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.