Tennessee pledge closes ESPN’s 2027 five-star recruiting board
David Gabriel Georges’ commitment to Tennessee means all 23 ESPN five-stars in the 2027 class are verbally committed for now.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
Tennessee’s July 22 commitment from running back David Gabriel Georges did more than give the Vols a five-star jolt. According to ESPN, it also took the last available five-star prospect in the 2027 SC Next ESPN 300 off the market, at least for now.
ESPN ranks Georges as the No. 2 running back in the class. His pledge means all 23 five-star players in ESPN’s 2027 rankings have made verbal commitments, even with the early signing period still months away.
Texas A&M owns the loudest haul so far, according to ESPN’s latest class rankings. The Aggies have six five-star commitments, more than any other program, and sit at No. 1 nationally in ESPN’s team rankings.
Texas Tech holds the top name
The No. 1 overall player in ESPN’s 2027 rankings is defensive tackle Jalen Brewster, who is committed to Texas Tech. ESPN reported that Brewster is the first top-ranked national prospect in its recruiting rankings era, which dates to 2006, to be committed to the Red Raiders.
Brewster, listed by ESPN at 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, plays at Cedar Hill High School in Texas. ESPN noted the local tie: Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire won three state titles at Cedar Hill during a 14-season run from 2003 to 2016.
ESPN also reported that Brewster has drawn heavy interest from other programs and took spring official visits to Indiana, SMU, LSU, Texas and Florida before returning to Texas Tech for a June visit.
Aggies stack the line
Texas A&M’s five-star group is led by offensive tackle Kennedy Brown, ESPN’s No. 5 overall player and No. 2 tackle in the 2027 class. Brown, from Kingwood, Texas, picked the Aggies over Florida, LSU, Tennessee and other SEC programs, according to ESPN.
Brown is part of a Texas A&M offensive tackle group that also includes five-star Mark Matthews, along with Kaeden Scott and DeMarrion Johnson. ESPN reported that Brown also competes in track and field and has started for three years at Kingwood High School.
Quarterback board belongs to Alabama
Alabama landed ESPN’s only five-star quarterback in the 2027 rankings: Elijah Haven of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. ESPN ranks Haven No. 6 overall.
Haven committed to Alabama on April 25 after visits that included the Crimson Tide’s spring game. ESPN reported that Haven cited his relationships with coach Kalen DeBoer, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and quarterbacks coach Bryan Ellis as key to his decision over Georgia, Auburn, Florida and Kentucky.
Haven was named Louisiana’s Gatorade Football Player of the Year after throwing for 3,931 yards and a state-record 62 touchdown passes while leading The Dunham School to its first state title since 2004, according to ESPN.
Other five-star prizes are locked in
Texas has ESPN’s No. 2 overall prospect, cornerback John Meredith III. Ohio State holds No. 3 edge rusher D.J. Jacobs, who ESPN said recorded 102 tackles and 16 sacks as a junior.
Florida has No. 4 overall prospect Maxwell Hiller, ESPN’s top-ranked offensive tackle. South Carolina kept No. 7 overall cornerback Joshua Dobson close to home after a recruiting fight that included Michigan and Texas A&M, according to ESPN.
The commitments are verbal, so the board can still move before signing day. For now, ESPN’s five-star shelf is empty, and Tennessee’s latest pickup shut the door.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.