Tennessee’s newest blue-chip commitment wasted no time reminding everybody why the Vols went so hard after him.
Chattanooga Baylor running back David Gabriel Georges, one of the biggest names in the 2027 recruiting class regardless of position, is already giving Tennessee fans plenty to dream on after a big Friday night showing against Buford (GA) in a high-profile scrimmage. Gabriel Georges broke loose for a 54-yard touchdown, flashing the kind of burst that turns a run into a headline in a hurry.
The play only added to the buzz around a prospect Tennessee landed last month, beating out Ryan Day and Ohio State as well as Pete Golding and Ole Miss for his commitment. Josh Heupel and Vols running backs coach De’Rail Sims pulled in a major get when Gabriel Georges chose the Vols.
He’s been making noise for a while now. Gabriel Georges was the driving force behind Baylor’s undefeated state title run in 2025, and his junior year already had him looking like a player built to pop off the screen. Friday night was more of the same.
The stage made the run even louder. Buford entered the scrimmage ranked No. 7 nationally by MaxPreps, while Baylor checked in at No.
- Buford ended up taking the scrimmage 20-13, but Gabriel Georges still left his mark.
And with his commitment to Tennessee, those kinds of moments figure to get even more attention from East Tennessee media outlets, giving Vol fans a clearer look at what’s coming once this season is in the books.
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Tennessee Camp Is Already Revealing Early Depth Chart Pressure
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The encouraging part for the Volunteers was the look of some of the freshmen, who continued to draw attention for what they bring physically and how quickly they are adjusting. Joel Wyatt and Luca Wolf both showed promising traits and signs of progress, the kind of early-camp development that can help a staff feel better about the back end of the roster even before the competition really tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Marshall Manning's First Football Debut Will Hit Home For Vols Fans
The Manning name is about to pop up on a Tennessee-area football field again, and this time it belongs to Marshall Manning, the freshman quarterback at Baylor School. Peyton Mannings son made his varsity debut in a preseason scrimmage against Buford, entering in the second quarter as he begins what is expected to be a backup role this season.
For Vols fans, it is the kind of small but notable moment that will always carry extra weight around Knoxville, where Peyton Manning remains a defining figure in program history. Baylor School came out on the short end of a 20-13 result, but the bigger storyline was simply seeing a new Manning take his first varsity snaps in a setting that felt a little bigger than a typical preseason tune-up. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Just Lost A Key Linebacker And The Staff Is Fuming
Tennessee got a frustrating answer from the NCAA this week, with linebacker Arion Carter sidelined after an issue tied to a $427 flight he took during the pre-draft process. Carter repaid the money after deciding to return to college, but the decision still resulted in a suspension that has drawn clear disappointment from the Vols staff, including head coach Josh Heupel and linebackers coach William Inge.
The timing makes it sting even more for a defense that wanted Carter available right away, and now Tennessee will have to open without one of its key linebackers. The suspension keeps him out of the first two games, including matchups against Furman and Georgia Tech, leaving the Vols to shuffle their plans while they wait for one of their more important defenders to return. [Read more 🡒]