Where Ohio State football turns in its search for a running back after missing on 5-star David Gabriel Georges to Tennessee
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
There's no doubt that not landing David Gabriel Georges is a legit miss for Ohio State. However, they have the chance to pivot and make the loss hurt a little less.
Ohio State Buckeyes recruiting took a hit at the running back position in the 2027 class after 5-star target David Gabriel Georges committed to Tennessee. The Buckeyes went all in on Gabriel Georges, with running backs coach Carlos Locklyn recruiting him harder than any other prospect in this cycle by a wide margin. Gabriel Georges will stay in the Volunteer State, where he played high school football at the Baylor School, and Ohio State now faces a real challenge replacing him atop its board.
With many of the top running backs in the 2027 class already committed elsewhere, Ohio State is back to the drawing board. The miss stings because the program invested so heavily in Gabriel Georges, and the current landscape at the position leaves few clean paths forward.
Florida State commit Jayden Miles could be an option
One name to watch is Florida State commit Jayden Miles. The 6-foot-2, 203-pound, 4-star running back from Louisiana committed to Florida State on June 8. Iowa State hosted Miles for an official visit on June 5 but was not in a position to accept a commitment at that time and had to push him away.
The Buckeyes could circle back to Miles, who is ranked the No. 28 running back in the 2027 class per the 247Sports Composite. Still, that’s a tough sell. Ohio State clearly treated Miles as a backup option, and convincing a prospect he’s the top priority after making that obvious is never easy.
Alabama commit Nigel Newkirk is another name to monitor
A second potential target is Alabama commit Nigel Newkirk, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound running back from Georgia. The 4-star prospect is ranked the 226th player and 16th running back in the 247Sports Composite. Newkirk committed to Alabama during his May 29 official visit to the Crimson Tide.
Newkirk was scheduled to take a June official visit to Ohio State, but that trip never materialized because of the Alabama commitment. He would be a terrific addition for the Buckeyes, and there’s a scenario where Ohio State could outbid the Crimson Tide. However, it’s hard to picture the program spending that kind of money at the position when it didn’t value any running back in this class the way it valued Georges.
The transfer portal remains a viable path
The third route Ohio State could take is the transfer portal. The Buckeyes have had success going that direction before. Quinshon Judkins stands as the best portal result at the position. They brought in CJ Donaldson last year as a solid rotational back in short-yardage situations. Most recently, former Florida Gators running back Ja'Kobi Jackson joined the program and looks to be the No. 3 running back on paper with potential as a third-down option.
Ohio State’s 2027 class sits at 18 commits, and there’s work to do, especially at running back. Whether the Buckeyes pursue a committed prospect, flip someone off another board, or wait for the portal, the coming months will show how the coaching staff adjusts after losing its top target.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Where Ohio State football turns in its search for a running back after missing on 5-star David Gabriel Georges to Tennessee
© 2026 A to Z Sports.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos