An incredible season by Baylor School running back David Gabriel Georges is being recognized beyond local and state levels.
The Red Raiders junior was named Tuesday as the National Player of the Year by MaxPreps.com, an honor that comes just after he was named Tennessee prep Player of the Year by Rivals.com and on the same day he earned a second straight all-state recognition for Division II-AAA by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association.
"We're really proud of David," said Baylor coach Erik Kimrey. "We feel like he deserves it because he's a special talent, and I've said that since the first time I saw him. I don't think he has any weaknesses. His God-given ability -- speed, power elusiveness -- he can do it all. He can run around you, through you or by you."
The 6-foot, 205-pounder, known nationally by his nickname "DGG," averaged nearly 11 yards per carry in rushing for 1,756 yards and 27 touchdowns to lead Baylor to its second DII-AAA BlueCross Bowl state championship in the past four seasons.
(READ MORE: Baylor running back David Gabriel Georges a truly rare phenom)
Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized the nation's top high school football players at the conclusion of the season. Caleb Downs (2022), Puka Nacua (2018), Bijan Robinson (2019), Jeremiah Smith (2023) and Malachi Toney (2024) are among the sport's stars to be named to the MaxPreps All-America Team over the last decade.
Gabriel Georges joins Riley Dodge (2006), Kyler Murray (2013) and J.T. Daniels (2017) as the only non-seniors to be named MaxPreps National Player of the Year and he is the first Canadian-born player to do so.
He becomes the first player from the Chattanooga area to be named national Player of the Year.
DGG was joined by Red Raiders offensive tackle Gabe Osenda (Tennessee signee) and Nashville Christian quarterback Jared Curtis (Vanderbilt signee) as the only players from Tennessee to be included on the MaxPreps High School All-America team.
He earned a second straight Tennessee Titans DII-AAA Mr. Football award, and he was able to put up those impressive numbers despite sitting out two games in which coaches let him rest rather than risk injury by playing him against overmatched opponents.
Along the way, he also earned MVP honors in the state title game after finishing with 211 offensive yards and two touchdown on 31 touches. That included accounting for 67 of his team's 80 yards on the game-winning drive as the Red Raiders rallied past Brentwood Academy 28-24 on Dec. 4.
His effort inside Finley Stadium helped Baylor finish off its first undefeated season since 1973. The run to a 12-0 record also included three other memorable matchups in which DGG took over when needed and earned national attention.
In Baylor's 35-34 victory over Georgia's Rabun Gap on Aug. 29, Gabriel-Georges ran for 223 yards and four scores, including the deciding 3-yard touchdown on fourth down. He would follow that with two fantastic performances against rival McCallie.
In the 38-35 road triumph over the Blue Tornado on Oct. 3, a game that was live-streamed as the national high school game of the week by MaxPreps, DGG ran for 280 yards and three touchdowns, prompting his name to trend across social media.
In the semifinal rematch at Baylor on Nov. 21, he put up arguably the most dominant individual performance ever by a local athlete, amassing 435 yards on 32 carries and scoring seven times. He helped Baylor break a 35-35 tie early in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 21-point win.
"That was the best high school performance I've ever seen," Kimrey said after the semifinal win.
Later, Kimrey added, "Not only is he the best I've ever coached, he's the best I've ever seen. He's a generational talent. The appropriate response to watching him play is to just be in awe of it.
"When we needed him most, David was at his best. He's a true professional already at 17. It was a really fun year and a joy to be a part of his journey."
In four total games against McCallie the past two seasons, he has 84 carries for 1,066 yards (12.7 per carry) and 14 touchdowns.
Rated the nation's No. 2 running back prospect in the Class of 2027 (Tennessee's top overall prospect and the No. 13 overall recruit nationally), the five-star recruit has offers from more than 30 college programs and has set official recruiting visits for Ohio State (May 29), Tennessee (June 5), Auburn (June 12) and Georgia (June 19).
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com
Baylor's David Gabriel Georges named national Player of the Year | Chattanooga Times Free Press
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