Derrick Johnson Sees Himself in Five-Star LB and newest Longhorn Tyler Atkinson
Chiefs and Longhorn legend Derrick Johnson thinks linebacker Tyler Atkinson looks familiar. Texas fans will definitely like who Johnson says the young five-star, now Longhorn pledge from Loganville (Ga.) Grayson reminds him of.
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“Honestly, he reminds me of me. He can run, he’s violent, he’s got a knack for the ball. The only difference is I was a little more raw. He’s more technical than me,” the College Football Hall of Famer told Inside Texas. “He’s getting to home plate earlier than expected.”
That’s high praise from someone who became the Kansas City Chiefs’ all-time leading tackler and won college football’s most major individual awards as a defender. DJ is a volunteer coach for the Longhorns, but also trains aspiring young linebackers. Anthony Hill and David Gbenda are some of his pupils.
So too is Atkinson. More than anything else, Johnson thinks highly of Atkinson’s character.
“He’s always got a smile on his face, and I love what he represents. He seems like a fine young man.”
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On Atkinson as a player, Johnson added, “Tyler is ahead of the curve. When you tell somebody how experienced, technical, fast, and violent he is, it doesn’t hit home for them until they see him work in person. But his mindset sets him apart. He’s years ahead and is about ‘what can I learn?’ Tyler asks the right questions. He’s not afraid of the work. He’ll be a day-one starter in Austin. It’s just who he is. We needed more guys like him, Tyler, Anthony Hill, and Colin Simmons.”
Atkinson has trained with Johnson before and it’s safe to assume they’ll be spending a lot more time together once he moves to Austin. It’s an exciting master and understudy relationship for Texas fans to look forward to.
Atkinson is ranked as the No. 8 overall prospect, the No. 1 linebacker, and the No. 1 player in Georgia in the Rivals Industry Ranking. On3 ranks Atkinson as the No. 19 overall prospect, the No. 2 linebacker, and the No. 1 player in Georgia.
