Ohio State is chasing one of the most expensive running back recruits in history. But one analyst says the price of landing him could cost the program more than it gains.

Jon "JR" Rhoades of the Buckeye Huddle podcast was blunt in his assessment of why going after David Gabriel Georges was a risky move.

"If Ohio State signs David Gabriel Georges and it costs us Bo Jackson and the transfer portal, that's not a win for the program. That's a failure in roster construction," Rhoades said on July 3.

Georges is a five-star running back from the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Rated the No. 2 running back and No. 9 overall prospect in the 2027 class, he picked Ohio State over Tennessee on July 22.

In his podcast, Rhoades pointed out that finances are where the problem lies. Georges is on track to become the highest-paid running back recruit in history. He is expected to sign a multi-year deal worth between $1 and $2 million.

His family has been clear that they want security across multiple years, not just a front-loaded one-year contract.

Rivals' Steve Wiltfong confirmed Ohio State is ready to match that.

"OSU will be as competitive as they've ever been on the NIL front for a prospect," Wiltfong wrote.

Rhoades isn’t just talking numbers, though. He’s talking about what happens in a locker room when the players feel like they can be replaced.

"If we get this wrong, it doesn't just hurt 2027. It changes the culture of how the Buckeyes retain talent from here on out," Rhoades added.

However, the danger Rhoades is pointing to is what happens to Bo Jackson when that money goes in. Jackson is a proven starter. Georges would arrive in 2027, exactly when Jackson becomes a junior.

If the NIL budget doesn't stretch far enough for both, Ohio State could lose the player they already have to bring in the one they're chasing.

Bo Jackson proved his worth as a true freshman

Lamar "Bo" Jackson ran for 1,090 yards and six touchdowns as a true freshman at Ohio State, averaging 6.1 yards per carry across 179 attempts, per ESPN.

He had 117 yards in the win over Michigan and 112 against UCLA. Those aren't backup numbers. That's a starter producing in the biggest games of the season.

Georges would step straight into that same room in 2027. For Ohio State, the best scenario would be retaining both standout players.

But if the NIL math forces a choice, Ryan Day has to decide whether chasing the highest-paid recruit in running back history is worth the risk of watching his current starter walk out the door.

Do you think Ohio State should go all in on Georges even if it risks losing Bo Jackson? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit