Tennessee Football Reportedly Signs 5-Star RB David Gabriel Georges for Record $2 Million NIL Deal
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Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Volunteers pulled off a major recruiting win on Wednesday, landing running back David Gabriel Georges. He chose the Volunteers over the Ohio State Buckeyes and Ole Miss Rebels, who were the other two finalists.
Last season for the Baylor Red Raiders, he was extremely productive, rushing for 1,756 yards and 27 touchdowns. He was later named the MaxPreps National Player of the Year and is the first non-senior to win the award since 2017.
With Gabriel Georges now on board, Tennessee's 2027 recruiting class ranks 24th in the nation and 10th in the SEC with 18 commitments. However, his commitment came with a hefty price.
In an era when players can get paid for their name, image, and likeness, top high school recruits have been able to cash in. According to On3's Pete Nakos, Gabriel Georges is expected to make $2 million in just his first season with the Volunteers.
"One of the most-watched recruitments of the summer, David Gabriel Georges committed to the Volunteers over Ohio State on Wednesday. Sources have told On3 he’s expected to make $2 million in Year 1 with the Vols," Nakos wrote. "It’s the most a running back recruit has ever been paid coming out of high school, nearly tripling the $750,000 that Michigan running back commit Savion Hiter was paid last cycle."
While it's a lot of money, he was one of the most sought-after players in the recruiting cycle. At 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds, he is a five-star recruit, the No. 2 running back and the No. 9 player in the nation, according to Rivals Industry Rankings.
With Gabriel Georges committed, though, Tennessee continues to build momentum on the recruiting trail and showcases an ability to keep up in the NIL era. Now, it is up to him to live up to the price tag once he hits campus.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jul 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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