The Tennessee Vols received a very small positive development this weekend in the ongoing recruiting battle for 2027 five-star running back David Gabriel Georges, the No. 10 overall recruit in the nation.

Ohio State is Tennessee’s top competition in this battle.

A few weeks ago, we detailed how the Buckeyes are hoping to flip 2027 four-star quarterback Keegan Croucher from Ole Miss.

Croucher is Gabriel Georges’ quarterback at Baylor School in Chattanooga. Ohio State already has a quarterback committed in 2027 four-star quarterback Brady Edmunds, but they’d like to add Croucher in part to help land Gabriel Georges (it’s believed that Gabriel Georges, who is from Canada, would prefer to have some familiar faces with him wherever he lands).

Keegan Croucher is locked in with Ole Miss

Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, Croucher says he’s completely locked in with the Rebels.

“As Ohio State has reached out to numerous quarterbacks to gauge interest in recent weeks, Croucher was one of them when the Buckeyes stopped by Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School to recruit five-star RB David Gabriel-Georges,” noted Rivals’ Adam Gorney on Sunday. “But Croucher said he’s not entertaining other programs and is completely locked in with the Rebels.”

I don’t think the Croucher development suddenly tilts this recruiting battle heavily in Tennessee’s favor, but it’s at least one less potential advantage Ohio State has in this battle moving forward.

On the flip side, it’s notable that Tennessee has a couple of Gabriel Georges’ former teammates already on the roster, including true freshman offensive tackle Gabriel Osenda.