It’s been a couple of months since five-star quarterback Jared Curtis sent shockwaves through the college football world by flipping his commitment from Georgia to Vanderbilt. At the time, the move raised eyebrows-not just because Curtis had previously pledged to the Bulldogs, but because he chose a program that, historically, doesn’t win many head-to-head recruiting battles with the SEC’s elite. Now, we’re starting to understand why.
According to new information released this week, Curtis is among the highest-paid signees in the 2026 recruiting class, with his NIL valuation reportedly topping $1.5 million in his first year. That number places him in rare company alongside Miami offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell and USC tight end Mark Bowman-each considered foundational pieces for their respective programs.
For Vanderbilt, it’s a bold play. Shelling out that kind of money for a true freshman quarterback is a statement, especially for a program that’s long been considered an academic powerhouse more than a football factory. But the Commodores clearly see Curtis as a game-changer-a player worth building the future around, both on the field and in the NIL marketplace.
Georgia, for its part, didn’t come to the table empty-handed. The Bulldogs reportedly made a strong push with an offer that approached the $1 million mark.
That’s not pocket change, and it was enough to get Curtis to recommit to Georgia after his initial decommitment in 2024. But when Vanderbilt came back with a significantly higher offer, the calculus changed.
Could Georgia have matched or exceeded Vanderbilt’s number? Financially, yes.
But philosophically, that’s not how Kirby Smart operates. The Georgia head coach has made it clear he’s not in the business of overpaying for unproven talent, no matter how highly rated the recruit might be.
It’s a stance that’s drawn both praise and criticism, but it’s consistent with Smart’s approach to roster building and locker room culture.
And to be fair, Georgia isn’t exactly scrambling. The Bulldogs still brought in one of the top recruiting classes in the country and added a highly regarded quarterback in Bryson Beaver, a transfer from Oregon who was ranked No. 12 nationally in the 2026 class. So while missing out on Curtis stings-especially given the public nature of his flip-Georgia’s quarterback room is far from empty.
Still, this storyline is far from over. Curtis and Vanderbilt are scheduled to visit Athens on October 3, and you can bet that date is already circled in red inside the Georgia football facility. It’s a chance for the Bulldogs to make a statement on the field and perhaps remind Curtis what he walked away from.
In the evolving world of college football, where NIL money is now a central part of the recruiting pitch, this saga is just the latest example of how quickly the landscape is changing. Programs like Vanderbilt are no longer just hoping to land elite talent-they’re paying for it. And in Curtis, they believe they’ve found a quarterback worth every dollar.