Ohio State misses out on David Gabriel-Georges, but their running back situation is still in really, really good shape.
The Ohio State Buckeyes missed out on Five-Star+ running back David Gabriel-Georges, but it is absolutely not the end of the world for the Buckeyes' running back position.
In my opinion, while DGG is likely a generational type of talent, that big of an investment is too much for the running back position. Reports are that he inked a deal for a three-year contract that is $2 million per year.
That deal is a bargain when it comes to his third year, but in years one and two, that is just far too much to invest in a freshman.
Ohio State's current running back room is Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, who both proved that they have what it takes to be very high-quality backs for the Buckeyes. Jackson didn't even become a running back until week five against Washington.
From that point, he rushed for over 800 yards and five touchdowns. For the year, he finished with 1,090 yards on 171 carries and six total touchdowns. That's all without three games of not being the featured back.
West, on the other hand, in a limited time, finished with 310 yards on just 59 carries, which is good for over five yards a pop. In an elevated role, he has what it takes to shine.
At the college level in today's day and age, the running game doesn't need to be all that much more.
Ohio State has made a conscious decision to limit its investment in high school recruits, and not going overboard on Gabriel-Georges is a smart move in my opinion. Had they brought in a $2 million freshman, they would almost be forced to play him right from the start, which would have caused more issues than his skill could fix.
Now, the future is also still bright for the Buckeyes in that running back room. Budding superstar Legend Bey is still getting his sea legs under him. They didn't land any running backs in the 2027 class, but in 2028, they already have four-star Elijah Newman-Hall committed to their class.
Not to mention, all of the opportunities that they will have in the transfer portal to get an established ball carrier on their roster.
While it is a major disappointment to lose out on David Gabriel-Georges, it is not the end of the world for the Buckeyes. They will respond, they will rebound, and they will be more than fine at that position moving forward.
