Ohio State fans are crashing out this week after 2027 five-star running back David Gabriel Georges committed to Tennessee.

Buckeyes fans are convinced that Gabriel Georges only committed to the Vols because of a big NIL deal and Tennessee’s promise to let him wear No. 0 as a true freshman (Ohio State couldn’t make the same promise because of a Buckeyes tradition).

It turns out, though, that getting to wear No. 0 wasn’t actually that big of a deal to Gabriel Georges.

The five-star recruit told Stephen Hargis of The Times Free Press that getting to wear the No. 0 “wasn’t a big factor at all”.

Gabriel Georges pointed out to Hargis that he would’ve been good with any number.

“I’ve worn other numbers in my career,” said Gabriel Georges. “My old number was actually 22. Before I came to Baylor, I wore No. 1, but I switched to zero because a senior at my old school took my number. When I came here, Shekai (Mills-Knight) wore No. 1, so I took zero again. So I’ve worn other numbers and that’s not a big deal to me. It would be nice to have zero, but I could take any number.”

During our sit-down interview on Monday, I asked @DavidGG27 if the potential to wear 0 at @Vol_Football played a part in his decision, and just how big a deal it is for him to have that number. His response: "That really wasn't a big factor at all. I've worn other numbers in my…

— Stephen Hargis 🇺🇸 (@StephenHargis) July 23, 2026

As Gabriel Georges said during his commitment ceremony, he chose Tennessee because that’s where his heart is — despite what Ohio State fans have to say (the noise from Buckeyes fans was so loud on Wednesday that Gabriel Georges had to issue a statement).