Now is one of the most exciting times of the offseason when it comes to what transpires on the recruiting trail. Sure there typically aren't too many commitments in the month of January, but now is the time when everyone starts learning who Georgia football's top targets are and which recruits are prioritizing Georgia as well.
While Kirby Smart and Georgia are showing a lot of love to many recruits right now, arguably one of the recruits feeling the most love right now is linebacker Tyler Atkinson.
Atkinson is one of the best players in the 2026 recruiting class as the 247Sports composite rankings have him as the No. 7 overall player in the country. He also is the top player from the state of Georgia as well as the No. 1 linebacker in the country.
Smart and his staff have visited Atkinson a lot throughout his recruitment, but Smart just pulled off one of the most impressive things you will ever see a head coach do on the recruiting trail.
Kirby Smart flies in on a helicopter to visit Tyler Atkinson
There are many different ways that a coach can show up to recruit a player, but nothing will ever top flying in on a helicopter to that recruit's school, which is exactly what Smart did with Atkinson.
Appreciate you flying in to spend some time with me @KirbySmartUGA #GoDawgs #AtkNup@GeorgiaFootball @GeorgiaFootball @CoachSchuUGA @jeffsentell @ChadSimmons_ @samspiegs @TomLoy247 @RustyMansell_ @JedMay_ @MattDeBary @Mhoward38 @DawgNation @Dawgs247 @CoachDiribe96 pic.twitter.com/hPVqL7lYlP
— Tyler Atkinson (@Tyler16Atkinson) January 17, 2025
If this doesn't scream that Smart really wants Atkinson to come to Georgia, then nothing else will. However, the best part of this interaction is that this visit occurred on Jan. 17, which was one day before Atkinson was in Athens on a visit during Georgia's first Junior Day of the year.
Great time with Coach Kirby & my parents today💯#GoDawgs #AtkNup @KirbySmartUGA @GeorgiaFootball @CoachSchuUGA @DawgNation @jeffsentell @RustyMansell_ @MattDeBary @ChadSimmons_ @adamgorney @TomLoy247 @Dawgs247 @Zack_Poff_MP @RecruitGeorgia @grayson_fb @Mhoward38 @josh_newberg pic.twitter.com/lSEiAHd5lk
— Tyler Atkinson (@Tyler16Atkinson) January 18, 2025
Not only did Georgia host Atkinson on a visit on Saturday, but Smart took the time to sit with Atkinson during Georgia basketball's game against No. 1 Auburn as well.
Atkinson likely won't commit for quite some time, but Georgia has to love their chances with him. Georgia has one crystal ball prediction in their favor on 247Sports to win this recruitment, so hopefully that prediction comes true because Atkinson is as good of a player as you will ever find in high school.