Georgia five-star LB target Tyler Atkinson earns national recognition with Junior Player of the Year Award

Five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson, from Grayson High School in Georgia, has been named the 2024 MaxPreps National Junior of the Year. The Georgia Bulldogs target is only the second player in Grayson history to earn this honor, following in the footsteps of Robert Nkemdiche, who received the award in 2011.

Atkinson’s phenomenal season included leading Grayson to a 14-1 record and an AAAAAA state championship. He celebrated the achievement on X, writing:

"🔥National Player of The Year🔥I'm truly blessed & honored to be recognized as NPOTY🙏💯."

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound prospect posted 166 tackles (32 tackles for loss), one forced fumble, 13 sacks, 46 quarterback hurries, and an interception this season. He averaged 12.8 tackles per game and recorded at least one sack in nine games.

This recognition places Atkinson in elite company, joining past winners such as Rueben Owens (2021), Micah Alejado (2022) and Gideon Davidson (2023). His career stats so far include 475 tackles, 79 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, 31.5 sacks, 93 quarterback hurries and one interception.

247Sports’ Director of Scouting, Andrew Ivins, praised Tyler Atkinson as a “playmaking second-level defender” capable of making an impact across the field. This week, the linebacker is proving his skills at the Navy All-American Bowl.

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Tyler Atkinson provides an update on his recruitment

Tyler Atkinson has received more than 40 offers from schools across the nation, and some schools are reaching out to him more often. However, he isn't ready to name a leader just yet.

“I’m an open book right now," Atkinson told On3. "I have not gotten far with coming up with a top five or a top 10. I’m still interested in schools that are contacting me a lot more. I’m really soaking it in and trying to figure out who I want to take my official visits to."

With his junior season over, Atkinson can now focus on his recruitment and visits are on the way.

"I will be announcing what schools I'll be going to (visit) soon," Atkinson told Horns247. "The focus is really to start narrowing stuff down and try to be committed before the season."

Being an in-state program, the Georgia Bulldogs have an edge in his recruitment, with On3 giving the school a 32.9% chance. The Bulldogs have four committed players in the 2026 class, ranking No. 6 in the Southeastern Conference.