Ryan Day Faces Risk of Losing Ohio State Starter for Nation's No. 2 Recruit: Report

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Would you add a blue chip commit if it meant losing your leading rusher? These are the questions coach Day and his staff have to ponder as they pursue the nation’s No. 2 overall recruit in the 2027 class, RB David Georges.

Last season, Bo Jackson was the team’s leading rusher, becoming OSU’s true workhorse. If Georges’ arrival shakes up Jackson’s fit in the roster or his future in Columbus, the program may end up losing a proven starter to the portal.

“If signing David Gabriel Georges means Bo Jackson walks because the money or the relationship isn’t right, that’s not addition by subtraction; that’s self-inflicted damage to a room that was already set up to succeed,” said BuckeyeHuddle’s Jon Rhoades during a July appearance. “The mainstream media says that we have to have the DGG at all costs. The retention math says something completely different: you can’t have him at all costs, or otherwise you lose Bo Jackson. But he [DDG] really does stand out as a true five-star difference maker.”

Jackson is not just an ordinary name on the depth chart. He led the Buckeyes as a true freshman, carrying 179 times for 1090 yards and 8 touchdowns. In the true freshman’s first appearance as a starter, Jackson ran for 108 yards against Grambling State. Following his 2025 performance, a huge breakout season is expected in 2026.

His biggest moment came against Michigan in November. Jackson carried the ball 22 times for 117 rushing yards, consistently keeping Ohio State ahead of the chains with his physical, downhill style. Film analysts highlighted his relentless effort, noting that the vast majority of his yardage was earned after initial defensive contact.

Coaches praised his poise under pressure while protecting quarterback Julian Sayin from the complex Michigan blitzes. Jackson also had 4 receptions for 49 yards. So, coaches trust him in pass protection and on third downs, which is the kind of role that’s nearly impossible to fill overnight, even by a five-star newcomer’s standards. But that doesn’t mean Georges cannot be a generational talent that Ohio State should not miss.

Standing at 6-foot and 220 pounds, the Chattanooga (TN) Baylor School standout is considered by many as the single best running back prospect across the 2025, 2026, and 2027 classes combined. To demonstrate his importance, the Buckeyes sent their entire offensive coaching staff to his high school in May just to watch him work out.

Despite weighing a rock-solid 220 pounds, Georges clocked an astonishing 4.38-second laser-timed 40-yard dash while hitting a max speed of 22.57 mph. His 40 time would have ranked 4th-fastest among all running backs at the recent NFL Combine. The question that stares Ohio State right in the face is how his addition reshapes a room that already features a proven starter in Jackson.

“Losing him would not be like losing a guy like Mark Fletcher, because Georges has a rare combination of traits. Right, I’m not trying to say anything against Mark Fletcher. He’s good back in college right now. He’s one of the best in the country, but George is different. He already is a complete three-down back who embraces pass protection and contributes in the passing game on swing passes and screens, allowing him to stay on the field without forcing substitution,” Rhoades added.

As a junior, he was named the MaxPreps Player of the Year and Tennessee Mr. Football after he recorded 1,726 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns at Baylor School. Georges is so highly coveted that he is projected to make college football history on the NIL market. He is currently locked in a fierce, high-stakes recruiting battle primarily between Ohio State and Tennessee, with Ole Miss trailing behind the two.

Industry insiders report that Georges is set to become the first running back recruit in history to secure a multi-year deal worth over $1 million per year, with some total package estimates pushing north of $6 million over three years to combat SEC-based incentives.

“He [Georges] has elite vision, processing speed, and football IQ that lets him read blocks, anticipate lanes, and make subtle adjustments with his natural instincts and lateral agility, rather than relying purely on just like raw athleticism. George finishes runs violently, always falling forward, with elite contact balance, lowering his head to truck defenders, and spinning through tackles,” said Rhoades.

Tennessee is pushing hard for the 2027 five-star. Georges, after his official visit, said, “They want me to be a part of the team as a player that can bring an impact,” to ON3’s Hayes Fawcett in June 2026.

Now, Ryan Day’s Ohio State has to make a crucial decision before Georges makes his final commitment decision on July 22.

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