By Mark Pszonak
NIL has changed many things in the world of college sports. One is how certain deals can affect a player’s recruiting process. Is that the case with the top linebacker in the country, Tyler Atkinson, who recently signed a deal with Adidas?
The No. 1 linebacker in the class of 2026, Tyler Atkinson, has signed with adidas as an NIL partner /// https://t.co/85QmCTyZJm pic.twitter.com/3TDipPZQLQ
— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) June 27, 2025
Adidas been aggressive with signing some of the top Class of 2026 recruits, with Atkinson being the latest. This adds an interesting spin to his recruiting process though, considering all five of his finalists, Georgia, Clemson, Oregon, Texas and Ohio State, are Nike schools. While it is an interesting spin, the fact that none of his five finalists are an Adidas school should be more than enough proof that his new NIL deal won’t affect his college choice.
So, how will he navigate this? It is possible that this is only a deal that will last while he is in high school, but that is highly unlikely. If it does last into his collegiate career, a good example of how this can be dealt with can be found in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes’ star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is also signed with Adidas, and as already mentioned, Ohio State is a Nike school. Smith must wear Nike during games, but that isn’t something that seems to worry Adidas as off-the-field he is a spokesperson for them.
All of this is a relief for Georgia, who has long been favored for the in-state linebacker. And if they are able to sign Atkinson, it is safe to say they’d be happy to let him wear whatever brand he wants off-the-field.
