Ohio State is all in on trying to land 5 star RB David Gabriel Georges, and it now includes former Buckeyes QB Will Howard doing some recruiting.
Ohio State Buckeyes recruiting is approaching a critical moment this week as 5-star 2027 running back David Gabriel Georges prepares to announce his commitment Wednesday . The 6-foot, 215-pound prospect from Baylor School in Tennessee will choose between Ohio State, Tennessee, and Ole Miss, though the decision appears to be a two-team race between the Buckeyes and Volunteers. Late momentum favors Tennessee , and losing Gabriel Georges would send Ohio State back to the drawing board at the position.
For much of this recruitment, Gabriel Georges looked like a coin flip between Ohio State and Tennessee. That perception has changed as the commitment date approaches. The Canadian native has built a strong relationship with Ohio State running backs coach Carlos Locklyn, and the Buckeyes have been as aggressive as they've ever been on the NIL front for a running back prospect.
Ohio State has offered Gabriel Georges around $1 million over three years reportedly, more than the program has ever offered a freshman running back.Still, that figure may not be enough. Tennessee has offered Gabriel Georges around $2 million over three years, nearly doubling Ohio State's package. That's a significant gap for a prospect who projects as a first-round NFL Draft pick in three years regardless of where he plays.
Ohio State has former players to make pitches, including quarterback Will Howard. The former Buckeye took to Instagram to make it clear which school the elite running back recruit should choose. Howard knows something about choosing Ohio State and thriving. He spent his first four years at Kansas State before transferring to Ohio State as a graduate transfer. Howard raised his draft stock, won a national championship with the Buckeyes, and became a Day 3 pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Screenshot via Hayes Fawcett on Instagram.
The message from Howard and others should be clear: Ohio State offers a better path to competing for national championships than Tennessee does. Whether that matters more to Georges than the financial gap remains the central question.
The NIL difference between the two programs is hard to ignore. If Gabriel Georges can maximize his earnings while in college, there's a reasonable case for choosing Tennessee. Ohio State would likely be willing to increase Georges' compensation once he's on campus and proves he'll be a focal point of the offense. The Buckeyes are firm with their initial NIL offers, in part because they have a deeper roster and need to spread money across more players.
Tennessee doesn't face the same roster-wide demands, which gives the Volunteers more flexibility to invest heavily in a single recruit.
The Buckeyes have put all of their running back recruiting resources for this class into landing Gabriel Georges. If he picks Tennessee on Wednesday, Ohio State will need to pivot and identify new targets at the position. A loss here would sting, but it wouldn't be unfamiliar territory for a program accustomed to adjusting on the recruiting trail.
Wednesday's decision will go a long way toward shaping the 2027 class for both programs. The coming days will be telling.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Former Ohio State QB Will Howard has entered the chat trying to get David Gabriel Georges to commit to the Buckeyes over Tennessee
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