Analyst predicts the Tennessee Vols will lose key in-state 5-star recruit to the Ohio State Buckeyes

A national recruiting analyst thinks the Tennessee Vols are going to lose a key in-state five-star recruit to the Ohio State Buckeyes.

With 2026 five-star running back Savion Hiter committing to Michigan last week, the Vols’ top running back target is now 2027 five-star David Gabriel Georges.

Georges, 6-foot/205 lbs from Chattanooga (he's originally from Quebec), is rated in 247Sports' composite rankings as the No. 3 running back in the nation and the No. 1 player in the state of Tennessee. He's also rated as the No. 34 overall player in the 2027 recruiting class.

On3's Steve Wiltfong noted this week that his RPM (recruiting machine prediction) for Georges is on Ohio State.

"The Buckeyes aim to hit big at the (running back) position in the 2027 cycle and the top target is Chattanooga Baylor School standout David Gabriel Georges," wrote Wiltfong. "Position coach Carlos Locklyn was the first to push for Gabriel Georges and as OSU battles Tennessee, Georgia and Oregon among others they’re well positioned. My RPM is already on Ohio State."

Georges, who rushed for 1,103 yards as a sophomore last season, is set to visit Ohio State on Saturday for the Buckeyes' season-opener against the Texas Longhorns.

The five-star recruit visited Tennessee multiple times in the spring and he's scheduled to return to Knoxville in September for the Vols' game against the Georgia Bulldogs.

There's still a long way to go in this recruiting battle, so plenty can change. One thing, however, is certain -- Tennessee is in for a serious fight in the battle for Georges.