Five-star RB David Gabriel Georges should pick Ohio State over Tennessee for one key reason on July 22
The recruitment of David Gabriel Georges is a huge story for the Ohio State Buckeyes in the month of July. In the end, Gabriel Georges could be wise to join up with Bo Jackson in Columbus for one important reason.
Ohio State Buckeyes recruiting is rolling, and the biggest prize still on the board for Ryan Day’s 2027 class is 5-star running back David Gabriel Georges. The elite prospect took visits to Ohio State, Tennessee, and Ole Miss before this summer. Georgia fell out of the race after Gabriel Georges decided to move on from the Bulldogs, who already have a commitment from running back Kemon Spell. With a commitment date set for July 22, the Buckeyes are in a strong position to land one of the top recruits in the country.
David Gabriel Georges is the story for the Buckeyes for the next couple of weeks
Most people tracking this recruitment believe Gabriel Georges is either a slight Ohio State lean or a true coin flip between the Buckeyes and Tennessee. Ohio State has put all of its focus at running back in this class on Gabriel Georges, and running backs coach Carlos Locklyn has led the charge. No coach has a better relationship with the 5-star running back than Locklyn, and Ohio State has that working in its favor in a big way.
Gabriel Georges’ decision will come down to multiple factors. NIL will always play a role in the year 2026, but his priority is going somewhere he can be a star for three years and then head to the NFL.
Why Ohio State makes sense for David Gabriel Georges’ long-term future
I believe that decision should be toward Ohio State because Gabriel Georges would be able to come in and split carries with Bo Jackson for a year, potentially in a Quinshon Judkins-TreVeyon Henderson type of workload. Gabriel Georges could still be a 1,000-yard running back as a true freshman before becoming the bell cow for his second and third years in Columbus.
That first year in a split role could be great for his long-term NFL future. We oftentimes see running backs who are beat down in college with a heavy workload have shorter NFL careers. Running back is a position that doesn’t usually have a long shelf life. Think of it as Judkins coming to Ohio State, where he split carries with Henderson after leading Ole Miss with over 1,000 yards in each of his first two college seasons. Judkins’ touches were a lot less at Ohio State, but he was still efficient and carved out a role on a national championship team.
Gabriel Georges would still be a star at Ohio State, potentially right away as a freshman, where he could prove to be a better option than Jackson at that point. Even if it is a 50/50 split in year one, Gabriel Georges has those second and third years where he could put up game-breaking numbers and potentially compete for a Heisman Trophy. The goals at Ohio State are always to win national championships and team goals come first, but the Heisman possibility is there.
Ohio State’s roster gives Gabriel Georges the best situation
Ohio State is loaded with talent, a good deal more so than Tennessee when looking at the rosters. The Buckeyes have no shortage of offensive playmakers now and in the future. Teaming up with Ohio State could be important for Gabriel Georges’ usage and health as he goes forward in his football career. There are millions to be made in the NFL, and protecting his body along the way matters.
Time will tell what Gabriel Georges decides on July 22, but the Buckeyes have a strong case to make. Ohio State keeping its full attention on one running back target in this class shows how much the program values landing him.