Tennessee’s push to flip Ohio State commit David Jacobs kept rolling even after the 5-star EDGE took a weekend trip to Georgia, and the latest read on the race suggests the Bulldogs may not be the real threat some feared.
Jacobs’ visit to Athens with his family turned heads because Tennessee and Miami were the only other schools known to be lining up trips with the elite pass-rusher. That alone had Georgia fans buzzing. But after watching the Bulldogs handle Western Kentucky, recruiting analyst Chad Simmons made it clear he doesn’t see Georgia as the team to beat right now.
"Do I think Georgia today is a threat to Ohio State? I would say no today," Simmons said.
"Look, there's a long way to go until December. Every visit, every bit of communication, all that face time with the staff definitely doesn't hurt Georgia, and Georgia hasn't stopped recruiting DJ Jacobs and DJ still picks up the phone.
I think he'll be back at Ohio State at least two or three more times this season and he still feels good there, but Georgia is not letting him go."
Simmons also said, "I think every visit matters...to an extent"
That matters plenty for Tennessee, because the Vols have been circling Jacobs hard and still look like one of the schools best positioned to make this a real fight. Josh Heupel and his staff are all-in on the Ohio State pledge, and defensive line coach Rodney Garner is at the center of the push.
Garner’s connection gives Tennessee a real angle. He coached Jacobs’ father at Georgia, and that relationship is a big part of why the Vols remain in the mix. Tennessee is also pursuing Jacobs’ younger brother Dawson, a playmaker in the 2028 class, just like Georgia and Miami.
The family piece could end up being huge, especially if Tennessee can get the whole Jacobs group to Knoxville for a fall game day visit. That kind of trip would matter in any recruitment, and it could matter even more here.
The Vols also have a recent example of how aggressively they’ll go after top-end talent. It was reported that 5-star running back David Gabriel Georges committed to Tennessee with a three-year, $6 million offer in front of him. The exact number Tennessee might be willing to put on the table for Jacobs isn’t known, but it’s fair to expect the pitch will be substantial.
For now, the 6-5, 240-pound Jacobs remains committed to Ohio State. Georgia may have entered the conversation enough to draw attention, but Simmons’ read suggests the Bulldogs are not the biggest concern for the Buckeyes. Tennessee, though, is still very much swinging.
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