Missouri Commit Xavier Atkins Offered by OSU Staff

Louisiana native and rising linebacker recruit Xavier Atkins, who committed to the University of Missouri last month, reported a new offer on Friday from Oklahoma State’s defensive staff.

It’s the second Power Five offer for Atkins, which comes a little over a month after Missouri swooped in with an offer and quickly converted him to a Tigers commit.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Atkins is a 2024 talent, so OSU and Mizzou aren’t likely to be his only major offers after a breakout sophomore season at Jonesboro-Hodge High School in Jonesboro, Louisiana. He’s coming off a season in which he logged 219 tackles, 10 sacks, two interceptions and multiple fumble recoveries from the linebacker position. Here’s what one local paper wrote about him after he earned Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors:

Atkins earned the honor after turning in one of the most iconic season in LHSAA history by making a school record 219 tackles, 180 solo tackles and 27 tackles for a loss as well as having 10 sacks, 2 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown. Atkins also returned a kickoff for a score for good measure. The tackles, solo tackles and tackles for a loss were the best totals in the state regardless of classification and his solo tackle statistics were listed as the best undisputed total in the nation. [Jackson Parish Journal]

OSU’s defensive staff, led by new DC Derek Mason, have been busy on the trail of late in the 2024 class particularly at the linebacker position. Atkins is one of several new targets to emerge within the last month after Texas talents Brandon Booker and Brandon Jones also received offers from the Pokes.