Josh Heupel and Tennessee landed the biggest target on their recruiting board for the 2027 cycle on Wednesday, when David Gabriel Georges picked the Vols over the Ohio State Buckeyes and Ole Miss Rebels.

The response from Ohio State fans has been strong and, frankly, a bit cope-ish. Blaming Tennessee for money whipping their way to landing the five-star recruit’s commitment. Saying Ohio State wasn’t going to go out of their way for a high school player like Tennessee did — which the Buckeyes recruitments of both DGG and current Vol David Sanders, Jr. show is flatly untrue.

Chattanooga Times Free Press sports writer Stephen Hargis has been as plugged into Gabriel Georges’ recruitment as anyone in this process, and he’s spoken with both Gabriel Georges and sources within the family before and after his commitment.

And, according to a recent piece by Hargis, it just might happen to be that Tennessee simply recruited Gabriel Georges better than Ohio State did.

David Gabriel Georges’ inner circle claims Tennessee simply recruited him better than Ohio State did

“Nothing against the staff at Ohio State, but Tennessee just out-recruited them,” Hargis quoted a source from Gabriel Georges’ inner circle as saying. “Plain and simple. He was going to get paid well by either program, but the longer the process lasted, the more David felt at home with everyone at Tennessee.”

Another person close to the family told Hargis that football felt like more of a “chore” at Ohio State than it did at Tennessee.

Hargis also revealed in his conversation with Gabriel Georges that it was his aunt who handled the money aspects of his NIL discussions. Gabriel Georges also mentioned the relationships he had with people in Knoxville as a driving reason for his decision.

“(Money) didn’t change anything for me,” Hargis quoted Gabriel Georges as saying. “The main factor was the people. Friends who are there and the people I want to surround myself with.”

At this point, those who cheer for scarlet and grey are going to believe what they want, as are those in orange and white. But Gabriel Georges is going to be a player who very likely ends up in the NFL making potentially eight figures, so that makes it easier for him to decide based on the environment he prefers rather than money.

Many won’t believe the explanations, but at this point, the decision is made. Tennessee has a bright young star to build around, while Ohio State is figuring out where to turn next while picking up the pieces of a two-year recruitment that didn’t pan out.