The Tennessee Vols are currently trending to land 2027 five-star running back David Gabriel Georges on July 22.

Ohio State, however, is very much in the mix — and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he picks the Buckeyes — but the Volunteers have all of the momentum going into next week’s announcement.

David Gabriel Georges could get Heisman hype as a true freshman

If Tennessee ends up landing Gabriel Georges, they’ll be getting a player who many believe will instantly be one of the best players in college football.

“DGG, wherever he commits next Wednesday, will have ridiculously unreal expectations on him in year one,” said VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs on 104.5 The Zone’s Ramon and Will on Friday. “I mean, that guy will make somebody’s preseason Heisman list next year.”

That’s a lot of hype for a player who will be a high school senior this fall, but Gabriel Georges is already being talked about like he’s the second coming of Adrian Peterson, so it won’t be surprising if he pops up on preseason Heisman lists next summer.

“Eric Westmoreland has been there at Baylor for two decades as a coach,” said On3’s Chris Low on WNML’s Josh and Swain this week. “Eric was an All-SEC player at Tennessee — he played four years in the NFL. He played with Jamal Lewis. He played with Travis Henry, and he said that he has not seen one like [Gabriel Georges] since probably Jamal. In fact, he said he’s got a little bit of Jamal in him, a little bit of Jahmyr Gibbs, and a little bit of Adrian Peterson in the different things that he does.”

Even former South Carolina and Florida head coach Will Muschamp thinks Gabriel Georges could start in the SEC right now.

“Will would still come around some to watch practice after he left Georgia full-time and was doing some scouting last year,” said Baylor School head coach Erik Kimrey to On3. “Last August (before DGG’s junior season), Will was out there with his phone, videoing David. He sent the video to Kirby (Smart) and said, ‘Hey, I just want you to know that this kid could play for you right now.’ And then he looked at me and said, ‘He would start at Georgia today.’”

Gabriel Georges, by the way, isn’t just overpowering high school defenders — he has a plan in every game.

“I think the one thing that no one talks about with him, because they see his size, power and speed, is his vision,” said Kimrey to On3. “He has incredible vision. He makes cuts that you don’t see. He knows how to set up cuts, and he has a plan of attack.”

No true freshman has ever won the Heisman before. Peterson came the closest in 2004 after rushing for 1,925 yards at Oklahoma.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, by the way, was a graduate assistant on that 2004 Oklahoma team…