Eric Boggs
With the College Football Playoff opener just days away and New Year’s Eve in sight, Ohio State’s attention is naturally fixed on the Cotton Bowl. But while the Buckeyes prepare for postseason football, Ryan Day and his staff continue to stack wins on the recruiting trail — and that effort paid off again this week with major news in the 2027 cycle.
Five-star running back David Gabriel Georges included Ohio State in his newly released list of top schools, keeping the Buckeyes firmly in the hunt for one of the nation’s most electric young playmakers. The Chattanooga, Tennessee native from Baylor High School is rated as the No. 2 running back and No. 13 overall recruit nationally in the 247Sports Composite, as well as the top prospect in the state of Tennessee for the 2027 class. His shortlist also features Georgia, Auburn, Miami, Tennessee, Texas, Alabama and Ole Miss — elite company that reflects his sky-high profile.
Ohio State has been in this recruitment from the beginning, extending an offer back in August 2024. Since then, Georges has visited Columbus multiple times, including a return trip in August for the Buckeyes’ season opener against Texas. Each visit has reinforced Ohio State’s position, and the connection with running backs coach Carlos Locklyn continues to be a major factor.
Locklyn’s demanding, high-energy coaching style resonates with Georges, whose football upbringing mirrors that same intensity.
“That’s something I like, because it pushes me to work my hardest,” Georges said after working with Locklyn. “My uncle coached me like that — military kind of style — always demanding. That’s something I’m familiar with, and I really like that.”
Originally from Quebec, Canada, Georges made the bold move to the United States just 11 months ago to pursue elite football exposure. English is his second language, but his adjustment has been swift both in the classroom and on the field at Baylor High School, where supportive teachers and coaches helped him transition. His decision to leave home was difficult, but necessary in his eyes.
“In Canada, you don’t really have good exposure for university,” Gabriel Georges said. “If I stayed there, I would never be able to be here or take visits like this. It was hard to leave my family, but I had to do it if I wanted to succeed in football.”
The move has already paid off. In his first American season as a sophomore in 2024, Gabriel Georges rushed for 1,103 yards on 114 carries (9.7 yards per attempt) with 14 touchdowns, showcasing razor-sharp cuts, top-end speed and rare natural instincts. He’s been playing running back since age five, and the polish shows on tape.
Despite the national attention and long offer list — which includes Ohio State alongside Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, USC and many others — Georges remains patient and methodical in his process. Academics are a priority, with an interest in a health-related field like both of his parents, and he’s carefully evaluating how each program utilizes its running backs.
That combination of elite academics, proven running back development and Locklyn’s hands-on coaching gives Ohio State a powerful pitch. Georges left recent workouts feeling he had already improved areas of his game such as ball security, cutting and pass protection under Locklyn’s guidance.
“I think Coach Locklyn is a great coach for that,” he said. “He’s showing me new drills and things I need to fix about myself and how I play.”
While the road to signing day isn’t until December of next year, the Buckeyes couldn’t ask for a better position at this stage. As Ohio State chases another postseason run in the present, it’s also building toward a future that could very well include one of the nation’s premier running backs in David Gabriel Georges.
