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Eli Lederman
Five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, ESPN’s top-ranked pocket passer prospect, officially changed his commitment from Georgia to Vanderbilt, which he revealed on Tuesday night, marking a significant shift at the pinnacle of the 2026 class just before the early signing period begins.
Curtis, a senior at Nashville (Tennessee) Christian School, ranks as the No. 5 recruit in the 2026 ESPN 300. Multiple sources informed ESPN earlier on Tuesday that Curtis aimed to commit to the hometown Commodores during this week’s early signing period, coinciding with his final high school game at the Division II-A state championship on Thursday night.
Curtis initially dismissed claims of having made a final decision on Tuesday afternoon. According to insiders close to his recruitment, he confirmed the switch on Tuesday night and publicly declared his commitment to Vanderbilt after discussing it with each coaching staff. He is set to sign with the Commodores on Wednesday morning, becoming the highest-rated signee in the program’s history.
«Being here in Nashville and witnessing Vandy’s performance this season has been incredible, and over the past few weeks, I’ve increasingly felt that I want to be a part of it, to be close to home, to showcase my abilities in front of family and friends, and to embrace being an underdog,» Curtis expressed in a statement shared on social media. «I am thrilled to be a [Commodore] and eager to help build something here at home with Coach [Clark] Lea.»
Curtis’ change of heart concludes a complex recruitment for ESPN’s No. 2 quarterback, who originally committed to Georgia in 2024. As per ESPN sources, Vanderbilt intensified its efforts for Curtis in October, promoting the appeal of staying close to home and early playing time as a potential day one successor to Heisman Trophy hopeful Diego Pavia.
This pursuit continued into November after the Commodores hosted Curtis during their 17-10 victory against Missouri on Oct. 25. While Curtis reaffirmed his commitment to Georgia’s coaching staff multiple times over the past month, according to ESPN sources, discussions between Curtis’ camp and Vanderbilt persisted during the closing weeks of his senior season.
According to sources familiar with Curtis’ recruitment, Commodores coach Lea’s possible candidacy for various job openings around the country became a point of contention within Curtis’ camp in recent weeks. After Lea finalized a reported six-year contract extension on Nov. 28, sources indicated to ESPN that Vanderbilt’s efforts with Curtis intensified further, leading to his decision on Tuesday.
Curtis’ commitment represents the latest triumph for the Commodores amidst a remarkable season, during which Vanderbilt achieved its highest AP Top 25 ranking since 1937 earlier this fall. He now serves as a cornerstone member of the program’s 19-man recruiting class for 2026, which ranked 50th in ESPN’s class rankings before his pledge.
His signature will provide Vanderbilt with its first ESPN 300 addition since cornerback Martel Hight (No. 274) in the 2023 class. As the program’s first five-star signee, he is poised to take over wide receiver Jordan Cunningham’s place (No. 107 in the 2013 ESPN 300) as the Commodores’ highest-rated recruit in college history. Curtis will also mark Vanderbilt’s first top-10 quarterback signee since Kyle Shurmer, who came in as ESPN’s No. 7 pocket passer in the 2015 class.
Curtis attained recognition as one of the nation’s prime pocket passers during his four years as a starter at Nashville Christian. He accumulated 7,637 yards and 92 touchdowns in his first three varsity seasons, leading Nashville Christian to a Division II-A state championship as a junior in 2024.
Curtis first committed to Georgia in March 2024 before reopening his recruitment process late last fall. He rejoined the Bulldogs’ incoming class on May 5, choosing Georgia over Oregon in a close two-school recruiting rivalry, and remained the program’s highest-ranked 2026 commitment until Tuesday, keeping in regular contact with the school’s coaching staff this fall.
His decommitment leaves Georgia without a quarterback commitment in the nation’s second-ranked recruiting class. First-year Bulldogs starter Gunner Stockton has another season of eligibility beyond 2025. Following him, Georgia’s current quarterback roster includes redshirt freshman Ryan Puglisi and class of 2025 signees Ryan Montgomery and Hezekiah Millender. It remains unclear if the Bulldogs will seek another quarterback in the 2026 class.
Wednesday marks the commencement of the three-day early signing period for the 2026 class. The recruiting cycle will officially conclude with national signing day on Feb. 4.
