Five-star quarterback Jared Curtis flipped his commitment from Georgia to Vanderbilt on Tuesday night, delivering a program-changing coup for the hometown Commodores less than a day before the early signing period opens.
Curtis, a senior at Nashville (Tenn.) Christian, ranks as the country’s No. 1 recruit in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports composite that takes into account several national services’ lists. He reportedly informed both staffs Tuesday evening and is expected to sign with Vanderbilt on Wednesday morning, becoming the highest-ranked recruit in school history.
“Being here in Nashville and seeing what Vandy has been doing this season has been amazing,” Curtis wrote in a statement on X. “Over the past few weeks, I felt more and more that I wanna be a part of that, to be close to home, to play in front of family and friends and to be what I love to be, an underdog.”
Reports indicated 14th-ranked Vanderbilt ramped up its pursuit in October, selling the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder on staying in Nashville and the chance to compete early as a potential successor to Heisman candidate Diego Pavia. Momentum accelerated after head coach Clark Lea agreed to a six-year extension on Nov. 28.
The decision ends a winding recruitment. Curtis pledged to Georgia in March 2024, reopened his process late last fall, re-committed to the Bulldogs on May 5 and then pivoted again this week. Earlier Tuesday, he denied reports that he was planning to change his commitment, but addressed that in his statement.
“This morning, I was really disappointed to see some media put it out there that I flipped from Georgia to Vandy. I actually hadn’t told anyone my final decision, not even my parents or agent,” Curtis wrote. “I wanted to talk to the coaches from both staffs after school and practice were over, and have one last heart-to-heart with my family before making an announcement. Never had a chance, and that was really disappointing.”
Curtis has starred as a four-year starter, throwing for 7,637 yards and 92 touchdowns through his first three seasons and leading Nashville Christian to a Division II-A state title as a junior.
The commitment gives Vanderbilt its first ESPN 300 signee since 2023 and resets the bar for the Commodores’ recruiting ceiling.
For No. 3 Georgia, the flip leaves the nation’s No. 2-ranked class without a 2026 quarterback. The Bulldogs still have depth with redshirt junior Gunner Stockton, redshirt freshman Ryan Puglisi and redshirting freshmen Ryan Montgomery and Hezekiah Millender, but may need to reassess their long-term plan under center.
