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Touted as one of the best running back prospects in the 2027 class, David Gabriel Georges had his pick of any team in the country. As he considered his options, he narrowed down his final list to a three consisting of Ohio State, Ole Miss and Tennessee.
In the end, it was Josh Heupel and home state Volunteers coming out on top.
Gabriel Georges, a 2025 USA TODAY Sports All-American, announced his commitment to Tennessee on Wednesday as the Volunteers landed their first massive win of the 2027 cycle.
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"They really made me feel at home," Gabriel Georges said during his commitment ceremony. "Being around those people and talking with the strength and conditioning coach, I felt like it would be a great place for me and a great fit. It's a place where I can develop and live with people I'll enjoy practicing with."
According to 247Sports, Gabriel Georges ranks as the No. 13 overall prospect in the 2027 class. The site ranks him as the No. 2 running back and No. 1 player out of Tennessee.
The USA TODAY Sports composite rankings lists Georges as the No. 10 overall prospect in the cycle and the No. 2 running back, trailing only Georgia commit Kemon Spell.
A back-to-back Division II-AAA Mr. Football winner in Tennessee, Gabriel Georges was at his best as a junior. He led Baylor to a 12-0 record rushing for 17,56 yards and 27 touchdowns averaging over 11 yards a carry.
In the Division II-AAA state championship game, he rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown along with a receiving touchdown. However, Gabriel Georges' best performance of the season came against rival McCallie two weeks prior where he rushed for 431 yards and seven touchdowns on 32 carries.
"I'm really grateful and thankful for all of the support," Gabriel Georges said of the support he's received from Tennessee fans leading up to his decision. "I'll always try to do better and better myself to do what I know I can do."
Georges adds to a heavy in-state class for the Vols
Heupel has made recruiting the Volunteer State a priority since he arrived in Knoxville and that has never been cleared than in the class they've assembled so far in this 2027 cycle.
Prior to Gabriel Georges' commitment, Tennessee had 17 pledges in its class. Of those 17 commitments, eight are in-state products. That list includes four of their top five commitments being in-state recruits.
That includes Brentwood Academy's Kesean Bowman and Kenneth Simon II, Oak Ridge tight end Malik Howard and Siegel (Murfreesboro) offensive lineman Princeton Uwaifo. Their other in-state commitments include Haywood (Brownsville) safety Jaden Butler, Goodpasture (Madison) cornerback Brandon Leavell, South Pittsburg wide receiver Dayon Cooper and Maryville linebacker JP Pearce.
Gabriel Georges also gives Heupel a much-needed five-star commitment. He is Tennessee's only five-star pledge so far this cycle after the Volunteers signed three in the 2026 cycle, including quarterback Faizon Brandon and Gabriel George's former high school teammate Gabriel Osenda.
"He made it clear that he really wanted me on the team," Gabriel Georges said of Heupel. "He really wants to use me as a weapon.
When it comes to recruiting in-state backs who were also Mr. Football winners, Heupel has had success in that department. Tennessee junior running back DeSean Bishop was one of the state's most accomplished backs during his prep career at Karns (Knoxville).
However, Bishop was only ranked as a three-star running back coming out of high school. According to 247Sports, Gabriel Georges is Tennessee's first five-star running back commitment since former Beech standout Jalen Hurd signed in the 2014 class.
Gabriel Georges noted his relationship with Tennessee running backs coach De'Rail Sims as one of the biggest reasons for his commitment to the program.
"He made things really easy for me," Gabriel Georges said of Sims. "For example, English is my second language so during our meetings, he showed me ways I can learn and be able to follow him. If I don't understand something, they'll translate for me so that I can learn from him."
Follow Sports Reporter Joe Spears on X at @joe_spears7 or via email: [email protected]. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow @usatodayhss on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tennessee football, Josh Heupel, land elite in-state running back David Gabriel Georges
