Tennessee can’t escape the David Gabriel Georges question that everyone knew was eventually coming
2027 five-star running back David Gabriel Georges is the centerpiece of the Tennessee Vols’ upcoming recruiting class.
Tennessee got a big win earlier this summer when they landed 2027 five-star running back David Gabriel Georges over Ohio State.
It wasn’t a cheap win, however, for the Vols.
Tennessee is reportedly going to pay Gabriel Georges around $2 million annually for three years ($6 million total).
To put that number in perspective, former Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, was believed to be the highest paid running back last season at over $1 million.
That’s how much Tennessee believes in Gabriel Georges.
Not everyone thinks Tennessee is wise for spending that much money on a running back
Gabriel Georges put on a show last week in his first high school game of the season, totaling 250 yards and three touchdowns while showing off some incredible skills.
Not everyone in college football, though, believes the Vols are spending their money wisely.
“Is spending $2 million a year good for a freshman running back? My answer is no,” said a Big 12 front office staffer to The Athletic. “There’s a learning curve on and off the field, and that’s not a premier position. Now, I think he’s really good. I just don’t think that’s money well spent. I would rather have a quarterback or a couple defensive ends or wide receivers with that money.”
“Two million dollars is crazy,” added an SEC front office staffer. “But some schools have to pay what they have to pay to get their guy.”
To be clear, everyone seems to be in awe of Gabriel Georges’ talent — they just aren’t sure about the $2 million price tag.
“He’s unique,” said another rival SEC front office staffer to The Athletic. “He has a combination that we haven’t really seen — balance, body control, speed, and he can catch the ball out of the backfield.”
Tennessee’s had a couple of high profile NIL deals — most notably the Nico Iamaleava deal — but the Vols haven’t typically spent like madmen in the NIL era (they spend, to be clear, but they don’t get into a lot of crazy bidding wars…opting instead to leave those to LSU, Texas Tech, etc).
So if the Vols are willing to spend this much on a running back, it’s because they believe he’s absolutely worth it.
And based on what we’ve seen so far, Gabriel Georges certainly appears to be worth it.
