A coveted defender made his return visit and wasn’t disappointed.

2026 five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson was in Clemson campus for the Elite Junior Day. He’s visited the Tigers multiple times, including last season’s game against Florida State.

Following the latest experience, Atkinson was impressed by everything he heard and saw.

“It was very good. You know, I’ve been wanting to get back to Clemson for a minute. So for me to get back up there, it was very good,” Atkinson told The Clemson Insider.

While on campus, Atkinson had the opportunity to see a Clemson practice up close and he said it was great to see the players “getting after it.”

Head coach Dabo Swinney made it very clear to Atkinson that he’s a coveted member of this class for the Tigers. He holds 42 Division-I offers as one of the top linebackers in the 2026 class.

“The thing that stood out to me was talking to the head coach Dabo Swinney. (The message) was come by June 1, they’re going to be recruiting me very heavy so I’m excited. I’m excited to keep hearing from them and go from there,” Atkinson said.

It wasn’t his first time seeing the facilities in detail but Atkinson enjoyed seeing the campus in full. He got to stand in the middle of Death Valley and said it was “very nice” to get the full experience.

As the summer approaches, Clemson will offer the 2026 class and Atkinson could be one of the first to receive an offer. He knows it’s a coveted opportunity and it would mean a lot to receive it.

“They don’t give it out to everybody so the offer’s going to be very good because Clemson’s a good program so that would stand out for me,” Atkinson said.

The Tigers’ emphasis on off-field success stands out for Atkinson and how the program wants to prepare him as a man.

As his recruitment continues, Atkinson has Clemson as one of his top schools and hopes to get back on campus soon.

Photo courtesy of Tyler Atkinson (@Tyler16Atkinson) on X