Vanderbilt Lands Massive Flip, Secures 5-Star QB Jared Curtis from Georgia
Just hours before national signing day, the Vanderbilt Commodores pulled off one of the most eye-opening flips of the 2026 recruiting cycle - and it’s a move that could change the trajectory of their program for years to come. Jared Curtis, the No. 3 quarterback and No. 3 overall player in the 2026 class according to 247 Sports, has decommitted from Georgia and is staying home in Nashville to play for Vanderbilt.
This isn’t just a recruiting win - it’s a statement.
Curtis, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound quarterback out of Nashville Christian, had been committed to the Bulldogs since May. Georgia, a perennial SEC powerhouse with a stacked QB room, looked like the clear destination for a top-tier signal-caller.
But Vanderbilt never backed off. The Commodores stayed in the hunt, and that persistence paid off in a big way.
There’s a lot to unpack here, starting with the timing. Vanderbilt just locked in a contract extension for head coach Clark Lea, who has quietly built something real in Nashville.
The Commodores have gone 17-8 over the past two seasons, including a 10-2 record in 2025 - the best of Lea’s five-year tenure. That kind of momentum matters, and it clearly resonated with Curtis.
From a football standpoint, the fit makes sense. With current starter Diego Pavia wrapping up his college career, the door is wide open for Curtis to come in and compete for the starting job as a true freshman.
That kind of opportunity doesn’t come around often, especially for a quarterback of Curtis’ caliber. At Georgia, he would’ve been looking at a much different situation, with veteran Gunner Stockton expected to return for his senior season in 2026.
The path to the field in Athens would’ve been crowded. At Vanderbilt?
It’s wide open.
And let’s be clear - Curtis isn’t just a local kid with upside. He’s a national prospect with elite tools.
He’s got the size, the arm, and the poise you want in a modern quarterback. He can make all the throws, extend plays when things break down, and he’s shown a maturity beyond his years in how he commands an offense.
He’s the kind of talent that can elevate a program - not just on the field, but in the locker room and on the recruiting trail.
This flip also sends a message: Vanderbilt isn’t content being a bottom-tier SEC team. They’re building something - and now they’ve got a potential franchise quarterback to build around.
Curtis choosing to stay home and lead the Commodores is more than a feel-good hometown story. It’s a sign that Vanderbilt’s pitch is starting to land with top-tier talent. And if Curtis lives up to his billing, this could be the moment we look back on as the turning point in the Commodores’ rise.
For now, Vanderbilt fans have every reason to be excited. They just landed one of the best quarterbacks in the country - and they didn’t have to leave their own backyard to do it.