Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks received some devastating news on Tuesday morning.
After the program was named a finalist for top-10 recruit and five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson last night, he officially made his decision today on the Pat McAfee Show. The decision didn’t go the Ducks’ way, as he committed to Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns.
Oregon was named a finalist alongside Georgia, Texas, and Clemson.
Many believed Atkinson was destined to join his hometown team in Georgia, and Oregon was seen as a longshot—but few expected Texas to come out on top.
This one stings for Oregon, which had hoped to lock in a defensive leader for its 2026 class.
Atkinson had connected with several staff members, especially linebackers coach Jake Long, and was viewed as a strong cultural fit in Eugene. His skill set and football IQ aligned well with the Ducks’ hybrid-heavy defensive approach.
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Atkinson sits at No. 9 in the 247Sports Composite and holds the title of top linebacker in the class.
Oregon sits at No. 12 in the 2026 team rankings on 247Sports. Adding Atkinson might’ve bumped the Ducks into the top 10. Lanning and his staff made a serious push late, but in the end, they came up just short.
Texas has a solid track record when it comes to developing linebackers.
Guys like Jordan Hicks and DeMarvion Overshawn made that jump to the next level, and that kind of history likely made a difference in Atkinson’s decision. Add in the Longhorns’ recent improvement on defense, and it’s easy to see why Texas came out on top.
Now Oregon regroups. In battles like this, even one miss can feel like a setback when you’re aiming to build a championship roster.