Alex Golesh had plenty to say Monday about Vanderbilt freshman quarterback Jared Curtis, and the Auburn coach’s message was clear: the kid is already looking like a problem.
Curtis made his first career start last Saturday against North Carolina State and delivered a big one, helping Vanderbilt to a 35-31 win. He completed 20 of 34 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns, then added 64 rushing yards on 12 carries. For a quarterback in just his fourth college game, that’s the kind of outing that gets attention fast.
“I mean, for a young guy that's in his fourth game, coming into college is really, really special," Golesh said. "There's a reason why he was recruited the way he was.
That's what he looks like right now. Physical, big, quick trigger, really, really confident.
And people are gonna keep saying, young guy, he is. He doesn't look young on film.
Does a really, really good job. And they do a good job offensively putting him in really good situations.
He can throw it. He can make every throw in the field.
He can make every off schedule throw, and he has here, through his early time in the seat, against Austin P. and Delaware, and then last week in the start against NC State."
That kind of production tracks with Curtis’ recruiting profile, too. He came in as a five-star prospect, and his performance against the Wolfpack gave Vanderbilt a real shot to pull off the upset.
Now Auburn gets its turn to deal with him. The Tigers will face Vanderbilt on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 3:15 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.
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