Tennessee football has made its intentions crystal clear: David Gabriel Georges is the guy they want leading their backfield in the 2027 class. And when you look at what the Vols are building - and who they’re building it with - it’s easy to see why Georges is such a priority.
The five-star running back out of The Baylor School is already one of the most coveted prospects in the country. Ranked as the No. 14 overall player and the No. 2 running back in the 2027 cycle by 247Sports, Georges has drawn interest from just about every national powerhouse.
Think Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Notre Dame, Oregon - the usual suspects are all in pursuit. But Tennessee has been in this race early and hard, and they’re making sure Georges knows just how badly they want him in orange and white.
And it’s not going unnoticed.
“I feel like Tennessee is building and bringing in top players that will make an immediate impact… and they made it very clear they see me the same way - that I’m their top priority for 2027,” Georges said recently.
That quote says a lot. Not just about how Tennessee is recruiting him, but about how he sees himself fitting into what the Vols are building. Because make no mistake: Josh Heupel and his staff are constructing something serious in Knoxville, and Georges could be a centerpiece of that next wave of elite talent.
Let’s break down why Tennessee might be the perfect landing spot for the dynamic back.
First off, the Vols didn’t sign a running back in their 2026 class. That’s a major signal - and a major opportunity.
With no one ahead of him in that class, Georges would walk into a situation where early playing time isn’t just possible, it’s probable. That’s especially true if DeSean Bishop, who’s emerged as a rising star in the SEC, heads to the NFL after the 2026 season.
If Bishop makes that jump, the backfield opens up in a big way, and Georges could be in line to take over from day one.
Now picture this: a Tennessee offense in 2027 featuring five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon, five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys, SEC Freshman of the Year Braylon Staley, and rising tight end Ethan Davis - and then you plug in Georges, a homegrown five-star back with elite burst and vision. That’s not just a good offense. That’s a potential juggernaut.
Of course, Tennessee’s got to win this recruitment first. And that won’t be easy.
When you’re battling programs like Alabama and Georgia for a player of Georges’ caliber, there’s no such thing as a sure thing. But the Vols have a few key advantages: a clear path to playing time, a loaded young core that’s already generating buzz, and a head coach in Heupel who’s proven he can develop talent and win big games.
This recruitment is far from over, but Tennessee has done what every elite program aims to do early in the process - they’ve made a top-tier prospect feel like a top-tier priority. And in the case of David Gabriel Georges, that could be the first step toward something special in Knoxville.