Even in the transfer portal era of college football, most coaches want to win high-profile high school recruitments because it's much easier to recruit their own roster than beat out a number of schools for a talented transfer.
Tennessee’s staff has been relentless on the recruiting trail, working on relationships with 2027 recruits and positioning itself for moments like this.
Hayes Fawcett of Rivals reported that 5-star 2027 running back David Gabriel Georges has trimmed his list down to eight schools, and Tennessee has made the cut.
NEWS: Five-Star RB David Gabriel Georges is down to 8 Schools, he tells me for @Rivals
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 22, 2025
The 6’0 205 RB is ranked as the No. 2 RB in the 2027 Rivals300
Rushed for 1,605 yards and 25 TDs this season (11.9 YPC)
Where Should He Go? https://t.co/n0jhr5KIYS pic.twitter.com/IAIDqV5e1U
5-star RB David Gabriel Georges could end up in Knoxville
Making the cut is always meaningful when a recruit starts trimming his list, but it carries extra weight when that player is a five-star from your own backyard. Tennessee knows landing Gabriel Georges won’t come easily. Georgia, Auburn, Miami, Ohio State, Texas, Ole Miss, and Alabama are all still in the mix. Gabriel Georges was born in Canada, but now lives in Chattanooga, playing at Baylor School.
Gabriel Georges is a 5-star for a reason. He hits the hole hard with great vision. His acceleration is off the charts, and he isn't afraid of dropping his shoulder to get an extra yard or two. It might sound bold, but if Gabriel Georges ends up being a Vol, he has a chance to start from day one. With DeSean Bishop possibly leaving for the NFL after 2026, he would be the perfect tailback to replace Bishop.
All things considered, one thing Tennessee has going for it is its extensive track record of running backs in the league. Alvin Kamara, Jaylen Wright, and Dylan Sampson have all been producing. Plus, DeSean Bishop put up nearly 1,000 yards last fall and was one of the best ball carriers in the nation.
Tennessee did get two gameday visits in 2025 from Gabriel Georges. Ideally, Josh Heupel will get Gabriel Georges on campus again soon to remind him how great Knoxville is. The bottom line is that being in the thick of a high-profile recruitment is just another reason to believe Heupel can put together back-to-back top-10 recruiting classes.
The Vols will have an opportunity to maybe even top the 2026 class if they add a star like David Gabriel Georges.