Updated

Updated · Eleven Warriors · Jul 22

David Gabriel Georges Set to Pick Ohio State or Tennessee at 5:30 p.m. as Vols Gain Edge

Updated

Updated · Eleven Warriors · Jul 22

David Gabriel Georges Set to Pick Ohio State or Tennessee at 5:30 p.m. as Vols Gain Edge

Q: With a reported $2M offer on the table, has Tennessee priced Ohio State out of landing the nation's top running back?

Not necessarily, but Tennessee appears to have taken the lead largely because its overall package is stronger. Multiple reports say Tennessee’s NIL offer is around $2 million per year, compared with an Ohio State offer reported above $1 million annually. For a running back, that is an unusually aggressive number and it has clearly shifted momentum. National recruiting insiders now largely expect David Gabriel Georges to pick Tennessee. Still, the evidence suggests Ohio State was not simply priced out on money alone. Recruiting reports indicate the Buckeyes tried to stay competitive financially, and Ohio State has one of the biggest NIL operations in the sport. The program has shown it can compete for elite talent and absorb major NIL costs when it chooses. The bigger issue may be fit and opportunity. Tennessee can sell Georges a cleaner path to immediate carries and potentially a starting role in 2027. Ohio State, by contrast, has more returning talent at running back, making that pitch harder. Some reporting also suggests non-financial details mattered, including role and personal preferences, not just the top bid. So if Georges commits to Tennessee, the most accurate reading is that Tennessee likely out-positioned Ohio State rather than purely out-priced it. The money matters, and the Vols’ reported offer may have created separation, but roster path and recruiting fit appear to be just as important in why Tennessee is viewed as the favorite.

3 articles · Updated · Eleven Warriors · Jul 22

Five-star 2027 running back David Gabriel Georges is scheduled to announce his college commitment at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, choosing between Ohio State and Tennessee.
Tennessee enters the decision as the apparent favorite after several national recruiting insiders projected Georges to the Volunteers in recent days.
Ohio State made Georges its top running back target for more than a year, sending its full offensive staff to visit him and reportedly offering an NIL package worth more than $1 million annually.
Tennessee is reportedly offering about $2 million per year and a clearer path to immediate playing time in 2027, while Ohio State already expects Bo Jackson, Isaiah West and Legend Bey back.
A miss would leave Ohio State with one of its biggest setbacks in the 2027 cycle and force the Buckeyes to quickly find a new running back target despite an otherwise strong class.