Just a few weeks ago, five-star quarterback Jared Curtis stunned the college football world by flipping his commitment from Georgia to Vanderbilt. It was a move that caught plenty of folks off guard - especially Georgia fans - but the Bulldogs have since turned the page, confident in the strength of their quarterback room and recruiting pipeline.
Still, there’s an intriguing “what if” scenario floating around - one that could, at least in theory, bring Curtis back to Athens.
This all stems from a recent coaching carousel twist: Michigan’s sudden decision to part ways with head coach Sherrone Moore. With the Wolverines now searching for their next leader, FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt tossed out six potential candidates.
Among them? Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea.
Now, Lea might not be the flashiest name on that list - which includes the likes of Dan Lanning (Oregon), Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame), and Kalen DeBoer (Alabama) - but he’s built a strong reputation for developing talent and building a disciplined program in a tough SEC environment. He also just signed an extension with the Commodores, a major factor in Curtis’ decision to commit there in the first place.
But here’s where things get interesting.
If Lea were to leave Vanderbilt for Ann Arbor, it could shake things up in a big way. Curtis, who committed largely because of Lea’s vision and leadership, might reconsider his future in Nashville. In that case, he could request a release from his National Letter of Intent and re-open his recruitment.
And yes, that opens the door - at least hypothetically - for a return to Georgia.
Of course, that’s a big “if.” There’s no indication yet that Lea is headed to Michigan, and even if he were, there’s no guarantee Curtis would want to leave. But it’s not hard to imagine a scenario where the young quarterback, having committed to a coach rather than just a school, decides to explore other options if that coach moves on.
Would Georgia take him back? That’s the million-dollar question.
Kirby Smart runs a tight ship in Athens, and while talent always matters, so does culture. Re-integrating a player who publicly flipped on the eve of early signing day might not be as simple as it sounds - even if that player is a five-star quarterback.
Smart has shown time and again that he values buy-in as much as ability. That doesn’t mean the door is closed, but it does mean that any potential reunion would have to be about more than just football.
The more likely outcome? Curtis stays put at Vanderbilt, Lea remains in charge, and Georgia moves forward with its current quarterback plan. And if that’s the case, the Bulldogs will no doubt be circling the date they face Curtis next season - ready to prove on the field why they were the program he originally committed to.
But in a sport where coaching changes spark chain reactions and five-star recruits can shift the balance of power, it’s worth keeping an eye on this one. Because as we’ve seen time and again in college football, nothing is ever truly off the table.