Last week Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney announced that former standout linebacker Ben Boulware would be taking on a larger role on the Tigers’ coaching staff, including going out on the road recruiting.

Last season was Boulware’s first on the staff and by all accounts, he’s hit the ground running in his new, expanded role. On Thursday, his first day out on the road, Boulware joined Swinney and safeties coach Mickey Conn, visiting 5-star LB target Tyler Atkinson.

“The coaches came by and put a huge emphasis on me being a top priority for them at Clemson,” Atkinson told The Clemson Insider. “Coach Dabo was very passionate in our conversation and how selective he is when it comes to the players he wants there.”

Atkinson, who picked up one of Clemson’s opening offers last June, was more than impressed with Boulware.

“The new linebacker coach is hungry,” Atkinson added. “He is ready to work and I like that.”

The 6-foot-2. 210-pound recruit is a product of Grayson High School, where Conn was the head coach for 16 years prior to joining Swinney’s staff. The Rams were 137-48 with seven region titles, a state championship in 2011 and a state semifinal playoff appearance in 2015 during Conn’s tenure.

Grayson also finished in the Top 25 nationally four times during that span, including No. 3 in 2011. The program reached the No. 1 ranking in the nation twice while Conn was head coach.

“Coach Conn is a Grayson legend and we have a great relationship already,” Atkinson added. “It was really a great visit with them and I am planning to get on campus again really soon.”

Rivals ranks Atkinson as the top linebacker in the 2026 recruiting class. The service also ranks him No. 11 overall and No. 1 in the talent-rich state of Georgia. He currently has more than four dozen offers, with most every bigtime Power-4 school having offered.

Atkinson was in Athens this weekend and said he is planning to get to Clemson at some point in the near future, although he has yet to officially lock in a date.