Five-star quarterback Jared Curtis shook the recruiting world when he flipped his commitment from Georgia football to Vanderbilt on Dec. 2 per a report from Rivals.

In one stunning swoop, Curtis became the highest-ranked commitment in Vanderbilt football history, and Commodores coach Clark Lea found an heir to star QB Diego Pavia, who has helped lead the program to relevancy the past two seasons.

Curtis, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound dual-threat prospect, is the No. 1 quarterback nationally and No. 4 player overall from the 2026 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. He totaled 3,467 yards of offense, 58 touchdowns and three interceptions last season, winning the Division II-A Mr. Football award and Gatorade Tennessee Player of the Year.

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This is Curtis’ second decommitment from Georgia and Kirby Smart. He picked the Bulldogs in March 2024, then reopened his recruitment in the fall before committing again in May 2025. 

That he picked Vanderbilt — once the longtime conference doormat — and spurned alpha-dog Georgia puts Curtis’ flip in the conversation for wildest SEC upset ever.

How Jared Curtis, Vanderbilt football saga began

Rumors of the Curtis and Vanderbilt courtship first surfaced the week of the Commodores’ game against Missouri on Oct. 25. Curtis and Nashville Christian coach Jeff Brothers, a former Vanderbilt quarterback, attended a Vanderbilt practice together that week. It was a part of a professional shadowing assignment Nashville Christian gave its students, Brothers said. Curtis later attended the Missouri game.

The night before the game, Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo was on the sidelines for Nashville Christian’s 65-12 win over Ezell-Harding on Oct. 24. Curtis threw six TDs.  

Everyone seemed to be buzzing about Curtis and the Commodores the following morning. Seconds into Nashville comedian Nate Bargatze’s “College Gameday” show appearance, he made a pitch for Curtis to attend Vanderbilt. ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit also brought up Curtis.

“It’s hard not to remind Jared Curtis how much I’d love for him to come to Vanderbilt,” Bargatze said. “We’re local kids. We’ll become best friends, bud.” 

Curtis has thrown for 9,528 yards, 123 touchdowns and 25 interceptions in four seasons as the Nashville Christian starting quarterback. He’s also rushed for 2,199 yards and 48 TDs.

He is 127-of-195 passing (65%) for 1,863 yards, 31 touchdowns and six interceptions this season, while missing more than two games with an ankle injury. He also has 536 yards rushing and 10 TDs.

Curtis led Nashville Christian to the Division II-A state championship last season and finished the season 179-of-255 passing for 2,830 yards, 40 touchdowns and three interceptions. He also rushed for 637 yards and 18 touchdowns on 88 carries.

Curtis will try to lead Nashville Christian to its second straight state title on Dec. 4 in DII-A state championship against USJ.

Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.

He also helps write The Tennessean’s high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.