Former Ohio State football assistant reveals reason five-star RB David Gabriel Georges might end up at Tennessee
Ohio State is awaiting David Gabriel Georges’ college decision on July 22. In a battle between Tennessee and the Buckeyes, a former Ohio State assistant recently said why DGG may not be able to pick to play in Columbus.
We’re now 12 days out from the commitment decision of Ohio State football target five-star RB David Gabriel Georges.
Ohio State is battling Tennessee for a commitment from the elite running back recruit. The Buckeyes have recruited Gabriel Georges hard for a couple of years and all of their eggs have gone in the basket of landing him.
The Buckeyes fit what Gabriel Georges wants at the college level. They’re expected to be aggressive on the NIL front as well. But how aggressive?
Ohio State’s top dollar for David Gabriel Georges may still be an issue
Ohio State has Bo Jackson entering his second season in 2026 and he’ll be a junior when Gabriel Georges starts college. The Buckeyes are spending premium dollars on Jackson. They aren’t going to go and give Gabriel Georges more than what he’s making.
Now, the Buckeyes could have an agreement to bump up Gabriel Georges NIL significantly in Year 2. Tennessee is going to have a higher offer on the table for Gabriel Georges that Ohio State won’t touch.
If the five-star running back is focused on NIL money, then saying no to Tennessee is going to be very tough.
“If I’m the starting running back as a true freshman, and I showed a hell of a ceiling and a hell of a trajectory to being a great player at Ohio State, and all of a sudden I find out you’re offering some high school recruit at my position double my what I’m making?” said former Ohio State assistant turned podcaster Zach Smith while discussing Jackson and Gabriel Georges recently. “That’s where I can’t imagine the kid (Gabriel Georges) says no to Tennessee. Ohio State didn’t pay $2 million for Jeremiah (Smith). They don’t pay high school recruits that much money.”
Ohio State would then have to bump up Jackson’s NIL if they were to give DGG say $1.5 million for his freshman season. We know the Gabriel Georges camp is looking for a multi-year NIL deal coming out of high school. Who’s to say it isn’t a three-year deal worth $6 million he gets in the end?
That’s a whole lot of cash and Ohio State isn’t going to pay until he’s proven at the college level. If Gabriel Georges is focused on money, the pick will be Tennessee, and that’s all there really is to it.