In a year where Vanderbilt set a new program record for wins, the Commodores have now added the biggest recruiting victory in program history.
Quarterback Jared Curtis, the No. 1 player in the Class of 2026 in the 247Sports Composite, is flipping his commitment from Georgia to Vanderbilt, according to multiple reports, ending months of speculation that he might end up at his hometown school.
Rivals first reported Curtis’ plan to flip.
This is the second time Curtis, who plays for Nashville Christian School, has decommitted from Georgia. He originally committed in March 2024 but backed off that pledge in October, saying he wanted to explore other options. When he recommitted this spring, picking the Bulldogs over Oregon, there was a strong sentiment that it would stick this time.
But Vanderbilt remained steady in its pursuit, hosting Curtis for a practice earlier this fall, as well as for the Commodores’ Oct. 25 matchup against Missouri. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia even took in one of Curtis’ games during the Commodores’ idle week, and comedian Nate Bargatze made a public plea while serving as the guest picker on “College GameDay” for Curtis to flip.
Comedian Nate Bargatze tells 5 Star QB and Georgia Commit Jared Curtis to come to Vanderbilt. pic.twitter.com/EdPWVUkEZ7
— Grant Speaks (@GrantSpeaks1) October 25, 2025
Early playing time is important to Curtis, and he will have an opportunity to start as a freshman at Vanderbilt with Pavia moving on after the 2025 season. Gunner Stockton, Georgia’s first-year starter, is expected to return for his senior season in 2026.
Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea, in his fifth year at his alma mater, has enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2025. The Commodores are 10-2 and were ranked No. 14 in last week’s College Football Playoff rankings.
Should he sign with the Commodores — he can make it official during the early signing period, which begins Wednesday — Curtis would be the program’s first five-star recruit of the modern era.
At Nashville Christian, Curtis has thrown for nearly 10,000 yards in his career and has led the Eagles to a 12-0 record in 2025 and a berth in the Division II Class A state finals. In 10 games this season — he missed two-plus games with an ankle injury — Curtis has thrown for 1,863 yards with 31 touchdowns and six interceptions and has rushed for 536 yards and 10 TDs.
Georgia fans are having flashbacks to this time two years ago, when five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola flipped from the Bulldogs to Nebraska two days before the start of the early signing period. Raiola had even relocated from Arizona to Georgia to finish his final year of high school football at perennial powerhouse Buford High.
Georgia’s 2026 class slipped from third to sixth in the national rankings with Curtis no longer committed.