‘I kind of snickered a little bit’ — The David Gabriel Georges story that explains Tennessee’s massive NIL investment
The Tennessee Vols are giving 2027 five-star running back David Gabriel Georges a massive NIL deal to play on Rocky Top.
The Tennessee Vols scored a huge win on the recruiting trail this week by landing 2027 five-star running back David Gabriel Georges over the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Tennessee landed Gabriel Georges mainly because of the relationship the coaching staff built with the five-star recruit over numerous visits to Knoxville.
The Vols, though, are also giving Gabriel Georges a massive NIL deal — reportedly $6 million over three years — which has already received plenty of criticism.
“I don’t know that any running back in high school is the kind of can’t-miss player that you pay that much money to,” said one college coach to On3.
No one knows, of course, how Gabriel Georges’ college career will play out.
But there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that he has Heisman Trophy-level talent.
And one story from Baylor School head coach Erik Kimrey clearly shows that.
Kimrey told an incredible story this week before Gabriel Georges’ commitment ceremony that shows how the five-star running back is…different.
The Baylor School coach detailed how Gabriel Georges called his shot before a semifinal game against McCallie last season.
“I can tell a quick story,” said Kimrey. “We’re getting ready to play our semifinal game. I’m having a meeting with David, and we knew we needed that game. And I asked him, ‘David, how many yards do you want to go for?’ And he looked at me stone-faced and he said, ‘Coach, 400 (yards).’
“I kind of snickered a little bit. Well, here we are in the fourth quarter, we’re up 14 points. We just needed to run the clock out, and we just had to run a few plays. And David said, ‘Coach, let’s run split zone one more time.’ He goes 74 yards and rushes for 435 yards and seven touchdowns.”
That was one of the biggest games of Baylor School’s season, and it was against a tough team and a top rival. And Gabriel Georges delivered in the biggest way.
I mean, rushing for 400 yards in a playoff game after telling your coach you’re going to rush for 400 yards is one of the most gangster things I’ve ever seen from a high school athlete.
That’s why Tennessee is comfortable spending $2 million a year on a player that’s never played a snap in college football.