One of the top offensive skill prospects in the 2027 class has already started trimming his list, and that shift may say plenty about where the race is headed. Five-star Chattanooga Baylor School running back David Gabriel Georges is no longer planning to visit Georgia, leaving just three schools in the picture.
The decision removes one SEC heavyweight from the chase and gives a clearer view of the programs still pushing hardest for the Canadian-born star. Georges said he wanted to focus on the schools that fit him best, telling Rivals, “I just wanted to focus on other schools that fit what I’m looking for better… I felt it was best to put my energy into the places where I see myself the most.”
Ohio State still appears to set the pace
For now, Ohio State remains the program with the strongest momentum. The Buckeyes have built a strong relationship with Georges through running backs coach Carlos Locklyn, who has met with his family in Quebec and also hosted him on campus for visits.
That connection has helped Ohio State stay in front even before the running back has locked in a commitment date. Rivals’ Recruiting Prediction Machine still gives the Buckeyes a 91.7 percent likelihood, though that figure can shift as elite recruits continue sorting through late-stage visits.
Ohio State has also made Georges a priority in a class that already ranks No. 7 nationally. The Buckeyes do not yet have a running back committed for 2027, but their group already includes consensus No. 1 edge rusher David Jacobs, No. 3 wide receiver Jamier Brown, and No. 11 edge Wyatt Smith.
Two SEC programs remain in pursuit
Tennessee and Ole Miss are still very much alive, and both have been part of the conversation for a while. Each program has a different path to sell, but both remain credible challengers to Ohio State as Georges keeps narrowing his options.
Ole Miss has some built-in familiarity through Baylor School connections. The Rebels already have Baylor School alumni Shekai Mills-Knight and Brycen Sanders in their orbit, and Rivals’ No. 4 quarterback in the 2027 class, Keegan Croucher, has already committed to Ole Miss.
Mills-Knight also appears to have helped host Georges during his visit to Oxford last weekend, giving the Rebels another reason to stay in the mix. That kind of relationship can matter late in a recruitment, especially when a prospect is trying to find the cleanest fit.
Tennessee, meanwhile, is making a hard push of its own. Georges’ uncle has even suggested the Volunteers may have moved to the front of his nephew’s mind, and running backs coach De’Rail Sims has spent the offseason building a relationship with the highly ranked state prospect.
A battle shaped by fit and development
Georges’ profile helps explain why several major programs are still chasing him so aggressively. He is the No. 2 running back in the 2027 rankings and has already earned Tennessee Mr. Football honors, making him one of the most coveted backs in the cycle.
Ohio State’s pitch is built around development and the trust it has earned with Locklyn. Tennessee and Ole Miss, though, are trying to close the gap with personal connections, family ties and the promise of a clearer role in the offense.
His July 22 commitment remains more than a month away, so the picture is still fluid. But after dropping Georgia from the visit plan, Georges has made the race a little smaller and a lot more revealing about which schools still have the best shot.