One area in which Ryan Day has been able to keep up with, and even surpass his predecessor, is in recruiting. Urban Meyer turned Ohio State recruiting into a national force, and Day has just continued that. To date, according to 247Sports, Ohio State has finished with a top-five class every season except 2019 under Day. The 2027 class is off to a great start with the number-one overall recruit, DJ Jacobs, and the 20th-best recruit, Jamier Brown, in the fold.
Ohio State has had plenty of success on the recruiting trail, but Day and company are looking to get even better. On Monday, the Buckeyes kept up their full-court press for the top running back in the 2027 class, David Gabriel Georges.
Ohio State Recruiting Efforts With David Gabriel Georges
Gabriel Georges is currently rated as the number-two running back in the class and is the 12th-best overall recruit according to 247Sports (second-best running back and 13th-best overall by Rivals). A player of that caliber deserves the red carpet treatment that Ohio State provided. On a visit on Monday, Day sent wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton, tight ends coach Keenan Bailey, running backs coach Carlos Locklyn, and new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
By sending all offensive coaches except the offensive line coach, Ohio State is showing how much of a priority it is putting on Gabriel Georges’ recruitment. The six-foot, 205-pound back is originally from Quebec, but he transferred to Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He’s the two-time defending Tennessee Titans Division-II Mr. Football, and was named the MaxPreps National Player of the Year last year after running for 1,756 yards and 27 touchdowns, leading his team to a state title.
By all accounts, he’s a back who could step right in as an immediate contributor. He has a college-ready frame and an explosiveness where he could score from anywhere on the field. He can be that bellcow back right away.
If he picks the Buckeyes and signs, he’d be the highest-rated running back commit since TreVeyon Henderson in 2021.
Where He Fits
With the transfer portal, who knows what the roster will look like in 2027? Regardless, as it stands, the Buckeyes have Bo Jackson, Isaiah West, Turbo Rogers, Legend Bey, and Favour Akih in 2026 who will have eligibility in 2027. Will all five be in the room with whoever comes in the 2027 class? Who knows.
Regardless, you can’t have too much talent. With today’s era of alleged roster tampering, Day will have to work to retain his players while trying to sign top high school talent. A player of Gabriel Georges’ caliber is more than worth it.
Even then, if Gabriel Georges comes to town and isn’t the go-to back in 2027, the 2028 room could be significantly thinner. With Jackson and West projected to take off this year, both could declare early for the NFL Draft, setting up Gabriel Georges to battle it out with Bey, Akih, Rogers, and whoever else joins along the way.
2027’s Strong Start
As it stands, Ohio State sits with the eighth-best class, according to 247Sports. Headlined by the top-overall recruit, the 2027 Ohio State recruiting class currently stands with:
- DJ Jacobs (five-star EDGE)
- Jamier Brown (four-star wide receiver)
- Kellen Wymer (four-star offensive lineman)
- Quinton Cypher (four-star linebacker)
- Jimmy Kalis (four-star offensive lineman)
- Davis Seaman (four-star offensive lineman)
- Eli Johnson (four-star safety)
- Brady Edmunds (four-star quarterback)
- Angelo Smith (three-star safety)
- Mason Wilt (three-star offensive lineman)
- Brody McNeel (three-star offensive lineman)
It’s apparent that the focus of this class is in the trenches. Five offensive linemen are currently committed to Tyler Bowen. With an expected large class of linemen departing after the 2026 season, it makes sense that Bowen and Day would look to backfill as best they can, even if none earn significant playing time out of the gate.
Edmunds is a rising star, it seems. Recently, he was invited to the Elite 11 Finals to compete with some of the elite quarterbacks of the 2027 class. At the same time, the top two recruits from Ohio are pledged to the Buckeyes (Brown and Wymer), reaffirming the staff’s commitment to “the best in Ohio stay in Ohio.”
All in all, Gabriel Georges could be an incredibly strong addition to the class, assuming the Buckeyes seal the deal. The top Ohio State recruiting target is set to commit on July 22 at 6:00 p.m. on the CBS Sports College Football YouTube channel.
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