Recruiting analyst says the Tennessee Vols are 'standing in the way' of the Ohio State Buckeyes' pursuit of elite 5-star recruit

The Ohio State Buckeyes are hoping to swipe a five-star recruit from the Tennessee Vols' backyard.

Ohio State hosted 2027 five-star running back David Gabriel Georges on a visit this past weekend.

Gabriel Georges, 6-foot/205 lbs from Chattanooga, TN (he's originally from Canada), 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.

On3's Chad Simmons noted on Wednesday that Ohio State has "confidence" that they'll remain a top contender for the talented running back moving forward.

Simmons also pointed out that Tennessee is one of the schools "standing in the way" of the Buckeyes in this recruiting battle.

"The Vols have prioritized the Canadian-born back from the start, and there was even some chatter about an early commitment earlier this year," wrote Simmons. "While that never materialized, Tennessee and Ohio State remain firmly at the top of his list and both staffs view him as their No. 1 running back target."

It's worth noting that Gabriel Georges is teammates at The Baylor School in Chattanooga with 2026 five-star offensive lineman Gabriel Osenda, who has been committed to Tennessee since January (Osenda is also from Canada).

There's still a long way to go in this recruiting battle -- official visits next spring/summer will be key -- but it sounds like it's going to be either Ohio State or Tennessee for the five-star running back.

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