David Gabriel Georges to Tennessee: How Did This Happen?

David Gabriel Georges has committed to Tennessee, ending one of the most high-profile Ohio State recruiting battles of the cycle.

Tony Gerdeman and Juck Miletti break down how the Buckeyes lost out, what Tennessee did to win the recruitment, how NIL changed the equation, and whether Ohio State miscalculated the cost of landing one of the nation’s top running back prospects.

They also discuss Carlos Locklyn’s role in the recruitment, Ryan Day’s involvement, the reality of recruiting against Tennessee in the NIL era, whether Ohio State should have pushed harder financially, and where the Buckeyes go from here at running back.

00:00 — Intro
00:12 — Juck reacts to the end of the David Gabriel Georges recruitment
01:48 — Ohio State’s offer and the challenge of battling Tennessee
04:40 — Did Ohio State miscalculate the market?
08:55 — Why Tennessee deserves credit for going all-in
13:10 — Why choosing Tennessee can make sense for a running back
16:55 — Ryan Day, Carlos Locklyn, and Ohio State’s recruiting strategy
20:59 — Did Ohio State ever really have a chance?
24:42 — The locker room impact of a massive running back NIL deal
26:20 — How NIL has changed roster construction
27:48 — Why Ohio State could afford to take this swing
31:00 — Why the loss still stings
33:57 — Big-picture perspective on Ohio State’s 2027 recruiting class
35:41 — Final thoughts and listener reaction

Who do you blame for Ohio State missing on David Gabriel Georges — or was Tennessee simply willing to go further than anyone else? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Subscribe to Buckeye Weekly for daily Ohio State football talk, recruiting coverage, analysis, and more.

Visit BuckeyeInsiders.com to become a member and join the conversation.