We had no idea that Tennessee was going to do everything possible to make life a bit more difficult out on the recruiting trail for Ohio State and Ryan Day. The Vols beating out the Buckeyes for David Gabriel Georges was one thing, but now it looks like there is more 5-star drama on the table. In this case, it involves EDGE DJ Jacobs.
Jacobs is Ohio State-bound, committing to the Buckeyes and Day last December. However, there has been plenty of worry that he might flip, with the Miami Hurricanes making serious moves to pull that off ahead of the Early Signing Period in December. They are not the only ones, though, as the Vols are now getting involved too, with recent buzz suggesting Tennessee is ready to go all-in to make this happen. Ugh.
DJ Jacobs with an Adidas post on IG this week…look who liked the post. 👀🍊 pic.twitter.com/JyBWgB9v3G
— DaddyDonnie (@Ro_Co_Vols) July 24, 2026
Ohio State now has to worry about Josh Heupel flipping 5-star commit DJ Jacobs
We don't even want to think about this potentially becoming a reality. Jacobs is the crown jewel of the '27 class for the Buckeyes, as he's ranked five stars, the No. 1 EDGE in the country, and No. 1 player overall according to 247Sports. With him being a Georgia legacy by way of his father David, the assumption was that Kirby Smart would land him, but Ohio State worked its magic to reel in his verbal pledge.
Despite that, nothing is going to be set in stone for him until the Early Signing Period, meaning the door is open for other teams to shoot their shot. Tennessee would be an intriguing landing spot, as new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is working to overhaul that defensive unit.
We also know that money isn't going to be a problem for the SEC squad, as Josh Heupel and company gave Georges an unreal deal to play for the Vols over the Buckeyes. In case you missed it, the reported contract for the running back is a three-year deal at $2 million per campaign. That's a lot of dough for a young man who's still getting ready for his senior season of high school.
So, if the Vols are willing to pay DGG that kind of coin, then it could be fair to assume that they're not going to be cheap in offering Jacobs a mega-deal as well. If you ask Ohio State fans, though, the decision between playing for the Buckeyes and UT would be a no-brainer. Every single season, Ohio State is going to be in contention to push for a national title.
The same can't be said for the Vols, who have only been to the College Football Playoff once. That lone appearance came in the winter of 2024, with a first-round loss coming against... Ohio State. It wasn't just a regular loss for Tennessee, as Ohio State spanked them 42-17. Ohio State then went on to win it all with Will Howard and then-freshman Jeremiah Smith leading the way.
Still, you never know what might happen in recruiting, and the fact that Tennessee is hoping to land another knockout punch here on Day is a bit concerning. Had you asked us a few weeks ago if the Vols had any chance of flipping Jacobs, we would have laughed in your face. After seeing how things went down with Georges, that doesn't feel like the case anymore. Tennessee will be a team to watch here with Jacobs the rest of the summer, and then this fall.
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