Josh Heupel working to steal Ohio State's top commit after David Gabriel Georges win

It sure seems like Tennessee and Josh Heupel have no problem ruffling some feathers over in Columbus. We didn't expect the Vols and Ohio State to become recruiting rivals, but things got going there with running back David Gabriel Georges picking UT over the Buckeyes. Now, it looks like Heupel is ready to land another jab on Ryan Day.

This time, he's got another 5-star playmaker on his mind: DJ Jacobs. The pass-rusher has been committed to Day since late December, but multiple schools have been working to change his mind. The list includes Tennessee, with buzz certainly growing there of late that the SEC squad might be able to pull this off. Time for Day and Ohio State to worry?

5-star Ohio State commit DJ Jacobs is hearing from Tennessee with a flip on Josh Heupel's mind

With Steve Wiltfong providing this latest update too, you know Tennessee is doing whatever it can to see if it can change Jacobs' mind. The future sure is looking bright, with Tennessee recently landing the pledge from Georges, while also signing fellow elite playmakers in Faizon Brandon, Tristen Keys, and Gabriel Osenda for the 2026 class.

Heupel and Co. have fully shifted their focus to '27, as the veteran coach is ready to make more splashes. It goes without saying, but flipping Jacobs would be an out-of-this-world get for the Vols, but it's of course not going to be easy. The team over at Scarlet and Game doesn't seem to be too worried about Jacobs having a change of heart, as Larry Johnson has built quite the bond with the EDGE.

However, where there's smoke, there's usually fire, and this Wiltfong report didn't arrive from out of the blue. It obviously makes a ton of sense as to why Heupel is going all-in here. According to the 247Sports Composite, Jacobs, a 6-5, 235-pounder, is ranked five stars, the No. 1 EDGE in the country, and No. 3 prospect nationally.

He picked up 38 offers throughout his recruitment, which speaks to how popular a target he is. Day was indeed able to grab his commitment, but with the Early Signing Period not arriving until December, there's more than enough time for other schools, including the Vols, to make their pitches here.

Miami has also been involved, with Mario Cristobal not ready to go down without a fight. Cristobal made a ton of noise when he flipped 5-star Georgia commit Donte Wright, but he's ready for another statement to be made. Day of course wants to prevent that, but Ohio State also has Tennessee to worry about.

For now, the Vols hold 18 commitments for the '27 haul, with Georges being the lone five-star talent. By the time December rolls around, though, might Jacobs be ready to join him in having a future in Knoxville? That's tough to say at this point, but the fact that Heupel is ready to battle things out for Jacobs should give the Tennessee faithful some hope moving forward.

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