Ohio State lost one of the top players left on the board in the 2027 recruiting class with five-star running back David Gabriel Georges’ verbal commitment to Tennessee.
Gabriel Georges made his highly anticipated announcement on July 22, picking the Volunteers over the Buckeyes, as well as Mississippi, which was also one of the three finalists.
It was the second time in three years that the Buckeyes tangled with Tennessee over one of the top high school recruits in the country. They previously missed David Sanders Jr., a coveted offensive tackle from North Carolina who ended up signing with the Volunteers as part of their 2025 class.
Gabriel Georges, who is the No. 10 overall prospect and No. 2 running back in the class, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, would have been the Buckeyes’ first five-star running back recruit since TreVeyon Henderson
Gabriel Georges grew up in Canada before moving to the U.S. two years ago to attend a boarding school in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
In his two seasons at the Baylor School, he emerged as one of the nation’s top rushers, producing consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
As a junior last fall, Gabriel Georges ran for 1,756 yards and 27 touchdowns, averaging almost 11 yards per carry as he helped the Red Raiders to capture Tennessee’s Division II-AAA championship and finish unbeaten for the first time since 1973. He was the named as the national player of the year by MaxPreps, the first since quarterback JT Daniels in 2017 to receive the recognition before their senior year.
Gabriel Georges’ physical traits only heightened the stakes of the recruiting battle between the schools as his 6-foot, 205-pound frame makes him a potential impact freshman.
He took official visits to Ohio State, as well as Tennessee and Mississippi, over a period of three weeks in May and June.
While Gabriel Georges’ commitment to Tennessee cost the Buckeyes a potential high-profile addition to the class, it also continued to leave them without a commit at running back during this cycle.
The Buckeyes have signed at least one running back in each class since 2023, including five between the 2026 and 2025 classes.
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow him on @joeyrkaufman on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State misses on 5-star RB David Gabriel Georges as Tennessee lands top target
Reporting by Joey Kaufman, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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By Joey Kaufman, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
