Ohio State is trying to pull off a sneaky move to help their chances with 5-star RB David Gabriel Georges and Tennessee can’t match it
The Tennessee Volunteers and the Ohio State Buckeyes are locked into a head-to-head battle for 2027 five-star running back David Gabriel Georges. The Vols and the Buckeyes are set to host Gabriel Georges on official visits.
The Tennessee Vols and the Ohio State Buckeyes are locked into a head-to-head battle for 2027 five-star running back David Gabriel Georges.
Gabriel Georges, 6-foot/205 pounds, is originally from Canada but he attends Baylor School in Chattanooga. He’s rated in 247Sports’ composite rankings as the No. 10 overall player in the 2027 recruiting class.
Ole Miss and Georgia are also in the mix for Gabriel Georges, but this battle is believed to be mainly between Ohio State and Tennessee.
Gabriel Georges is set to begin taking official visits later this month. This battle is essentially a coin flip between the Vols and the Buckeyes ahead of those visits.
Ohio State is trying to pull off a sneaky move to help their chances with David Gabriel Georges
Tennessee and Ohio State have both made Gabriel Georges a top priority, and they’re both trying to do everything they can to land the five-star running back (including Ohio State recently sending their whole offensive staff to visit Gabriel Georges).
Ohio State, specifically, has a move up its sleeve that Tennessee isn’t in a position to match.
According to On3’s Steve Wiltfong, the Buckeyes are trying to flip 2027 four-star quarterback Keegan Croucher from the Ole Miss Rebels.
This is notable because Croucher is teammates with Gabriel Georges at Baylor School (which is one of the reasons why the five-star running back is taking an official visit to Ole Miss).
If the Buckeyes are able to flip Croucher from the Rebels, it would give Ohio State another big weapon to use in the battle for Gabriel Georges.
Ohio State currently has a 2027 quarterback commit in four-star Brady Edmunds. UCLA, however, is trying to flip Edmunds, a California native, from the Buckeyes.
Even if UCLA doesn’t flip Edmunds, it’s very possible that Ohio State signs two quarterbacks during the 2027 cycle.
Tennessee isn’t in a spot to sign two quarterbacks in the 2027 cycle. That’s because the Vols already have a commitment from 2027 three-star quarterback Derrick Baker, who could be intrigued by other programs if the Vols were to add another quarterback commit (Georgia offered Baker this week). Tennessee also has two young quarterbacks on the roster in redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and true freshman Faizon Brandon.
If the Buckeyes manage to flip Croucher from Ole Miss, though, it doesn’t mean that Ohio State will become the automatic favorite to land Gabriel Georges.
But it could be the tiebreaker between Tennessee and Ohio State if Gabriel Georges is having a tough time making a decision after his official visits.
Tennessee, for what it’s worth, is reportedly willing to “do whatever they need to do” to land the coveted running back.
Buckle up, this recruiting battle is going to be a wild ride over the next few weeks.