The Ohio State Buckeyes may not win 5-star Baylor (TN) running back David Gabriel Georges' recruitment. It might be the Tennessee Volunteers that keep DGG home. If that happens, though, it'd be out of pure desperation.
Saturday Blitz's Nicholas Rome predicts a Tennessee victory for Gabriel Georges, but the reason why is nothing short of completely desperate and sad. Per Rome, "The recruitment of running back David Gabriel Georges is turning into a major battle between Ohio State and Tennessee. The Buckeyes seemed like the long front-runner for the Quebec Native, but Tennessee has made a push to create a neck-and-neck battle. The Vols don't have a bigger target left on the board, and in the end, it feels like this will be a battle Josh Heupel goes all-in to win."
Is going all in to land one recruit really a long-term win for the Vols in this situation? It's possible Tennessee could turn DGG into the next Tank Bigsby, whose potential never came close to being reached with the Auburn Tigers because, by 2022, there was nothing around him besides another RB, Jarquez Hunter. Of course, there's hyperbole, because it's not as though there will be "nothing" around DGG in 2027.
While there's a strong offensive line in 2026, one that's among the strongest in the country, there could be turnover next offseason. It's a veteran group that will need a quarterback to work out this fall, so David Sanders Jr. doesn't get wandering eyes like Jordan Seaton did following a 2025 Colorado Buffaloes season with little direction in Boulder.
Josh Heupel has been in the seat for a while, and stagnation, or worse, regression, is never a good sign for long-term stability in the SEC. Hell, sometimes all it takes is one really bad year to be shown the door. Heupel can't allow 2026 to be that year.
Forget about the 2027 class. Heupel should feel like he's in survival mode now. Let's not forget that Jim Knowles and his complicated defensive schemes will be on the other side of the ball that Heupel's not overseeing.
Don't get me wrong, DGG going with the Vols is a feel-good story, but there's no guarantee it'd even last beyond the 2027 season.
Ohio State will have eyes on David Gabriel Georges past a potential Tennessee commitment
DGG could commit to Tennessee anytime between now and signing day, and he'd still have the Buckeyes after him. Gabriel Georges could sign his Written Offer of Athletics Aid on Rocky Top, and Ohio State will still probably be eyeing him for the 2028 season.
While the federal government is trying to limit transfers to one without penalty, that's not going to stop freshmen with buyer's remorse from finding a better home. OSU will be the school most will regret not choosing, if I had to guess. Or at least among the top schools. The Buckeyes have an older offensive line that will be replaced, too, but Ryan Day and Tyler Bowen have elite players at every position waiting. Gabriel Osenda is the only true standout besides Sanders on the Vols' line for next year.
Should Tennessee land DGG, Heupel and Co. should all sleep with one eye open. An athlete that special will always be on the Ohio State University's radar.
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