Tennessee’s latest recruiting win already has a built-in connection waiting for it in Knoxville.
Last month, the Vols landed a commitment from five-star running back David Gabriel Georges, a major pickup for the 2027 class and one of the top prospects in the country. Tennessee views him as the kind of dynamic back who can become a centerpiece down the road, and the program also has a little familiarity working in its favor: two of his former Baylor School teammates, Gabe Osenda and Jamyan Theodore, are already freshmen on the 2026 roster.
Osenda said Wednesday that he didn’t have any inside track on Gabriel Georges’ recruitment or decision, but he is eager to watch what the Tennessee commit does in his senior year at Baylor.
“I didn’t really know at any certain point, but definitely exciting to see what he’s going to do in high school this year,” Osenda said.
Osenda knows that path well. A Canadian native like Gabriel Georges, he played his high school football at Baylor School in Chattanooga before arriving at Tennessee as a five-star prospect in 247Sports’ 2026 class rankings. He also earned spots on the Polynesian Bowl and Navy All-American Bowl rosters, and now he’s trying to carve out his place with the Volunteers.
That process got underway Wednesday when Tennessee opened fall camp.
“It was really good,” Osenda said about his first day of fall camp on Wednesday. “You know, it’s exciting to get back out there.
Compete, battle, and work. Just continue to get better with all my brothers.”
For Baylor, Osenda lined up at left tackle, but Tennessee has been giving him work on both sides of the line heading into his freshman season. He said the move has been part of the process since spring.
“I started to practice more right tackle during the spring, but I definitely feel more comfortable switching sides right now,” Osenda said.
At 6-foot-8 and 332 pounds, Osenda was part of a Baylor offensive line that helped pave the way for Gabriel Georges’ strong junior season. Tennessee eventually won the five-star back’s commitment over Ohio State and Ole Miss in July, capping a hard-fought recruiting battle.
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Tennessees Defensive Reset Just Became Fall Camps Biggest Test
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