We’re now a week away from 2027 five-star running back David Gabriel Georges’ commitment ceremony, and it’s feeling like one team is trending for the coveted recruit.

The Tennessee Vols and the Ohio State Buckeyes are locked into a head-to-head battle for Gabriel Georges.

On3 national recruiting insider Steve Wiltfong has long had a prediction on Ohio State to win this battle, but he said this week that his sources are pointing toward Tennessee being the pick for Gabriel Georges.

Wiltfong, however, doesn’t sound like he’s ready to ride with those sources and change his prediction just yet.

“In talking to a lot of sources on my end about it, I think the majority would lean Tennessee,” said Wiltfong this week. “But there still are sources that believe that Ohio State ultimately lands David Gabriel Georges.”

“The majority of the sources feel like Tennessee is going to land David Gabriel Georges,” continued Wiltfong. “But there are sources that believe he ultimately goes to Ohio State, and I think there’s confidence around both programs still with eight days to go.

“There’s jockeying behind the scenes, so I’m just kind of waiting for what I believe to be a truly convicted source telling me where they think he’s going to go, and then that’s where I’m going to place my prediction. And then we’ll see what he announces. But Ohio State, I liked their position early. I think he’s always envisioned himself at a place like Ohio State. And Tennessee has been able to come on strong — selling first and foremost a humongous NIL package. Then second, the belief that you can turn this (Tennessee) program around, and then there’s some belief in some of the young players in that program. But Ohio State, they’ve got everything he’s looking for in a program and they have a track record. So we’ll see what prevails. Is it going to be the NIL opportunities and the chance to restore glory to a program and help get them back on track? Or is it going to be increasing your odds of doing everything that you set out to do?”

Wiltfong seems flabbergasted that Gabriel Georges could potentially choose Tennessee over Ohio State, chalking it up mostly to the big NIL deal the Volunteers are offering.

But it’s possible, if not likely, that if Gabriel Georges picks Tennessee, it’s because that’s where he feels most comfortable. Recruits make decisions based on factors that fans, and even recruiting insiders, don’t see. It’s the relationships behind the scenes that often determine where a player lands. (And yes, the money is a factor — but Gabriel Georges is a unique case. He’ll make plenty of money beyond his NIL deal with a school wherever he lands if he’s as good as expected).

Wiltfong also mentioned that Gabriel Georges would play in “big games” at Ohio State. And while that’s true, let’s not forget that Tennessee is only a season removed from playing in a pretty big game in Columbus against Ohio State. That game obviously didn’t go the Vols’ way, but we’ve seen that Tennessee is more than capable of getting to the College Football Playoff.

July 22 can’t get here soon enough.