For the Texas Longhorns, the last few weeks have been full of ups and downs in recruiting. However, on Wednesday, Texas got encouraging news regarding one of the best prospects in the 2026 class. Five-star linebacker Travis Atkinson narrowed his list down to four teams, including the Longhorns. 

As the Longhorns look to secure a commitment from Atkinson, they will face competition. The other programs on his list are Clemson, Oregon, and Georgia. For any of those programs, Atkinson would be a massive upgrade. He is currently ranked as the second-best linebacker in his class by 247Sports. 

While Georgia is seen as the favorite to land Atkinson, it is a good sign for Texas that they are still in the mix. Their 2026 class already includes a five-star recruit in Dia Bell. Adding another prospect of that caliber, like Atkinson, would take the Longhorns recruiting class to another level. 

NEWS: Five-Star LB Tyler Atkinson is down to Clemson, Georgia, Oregon, & Texas, he tells me for @rivals

The 6’2 215 LB is one of the Top Overall Recruits in the 2026 Class

Atkinson says a commitment is coming soon ⏳https://t.co/pnxd0NnkQrpic.twitter.com/kC7e8HGLHL

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 9, 2025

During his high school career, Atkinson has been a human highlight reel. He finished the 2024 campaign with 166 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks. The talented linebacker also recorded one interception and forced one fumble. Due to Atkinson’s play, he was named the MaxPreps National Junior of the Year. 

As Atkinson has made headlines every time he steps on the field, he has drawn the interest of programs nationwide. Less than a month ago, he was at Forty Acres for a visit with the Longhorns. With a decision expected soon, Atkinson will be a name to watch. 

Although the Longhorns already have a 2026 class full of talent, Atkinson would be a game-changing addition to the defense. 

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Five-star linebacker in 2026 narrows list down to four teams