Yesterday, Jared Curtis, the number one quarterback in the 2026 recruiting class, announced his commitment to Georgia, picking the Bulldogs over the Oregon Ducks in a recruiting battle.
A Top Recruit’s Journey to Georgia
Curtis, a 6’4”, 225-pound junior from Nashville Christian School in Tennessee, has been turning heads since his freshman year. In 2022, he was the runner-up for Tennessee’s Mr. Football award, leading his team to a 10-3 record and a Division II-A title game while throwing 2,285 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Fast forward to his junior season, he stepped up his game, completing over 70% of his passes for 2,830 yards, 40 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. He also ran for 637 yards and 18 scores, earning Tennessee’s Gatorade Football Player of the Year honors in the 2024-2025 season.
Curtis first committed to Georgia in March 2024 but reopened his recruitment in October, wanting to explore his options. That particular decision caused a commotion among college football’s elite programs. Ohio State, Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, and Oregon came calling, but he eventually narrowed his choices to Georgia and Oregon.
He visited the two schools officially last month, and the battle went down to the wire. According to ESPN, Curtis had commitment videos ready for both programs, and even the coaching staff wasn’t sure of his final choice until he made it public yesterday.
5-star recruit and the No. 1 QB in the class of 2026, Jared Curtis, has committed to @GeorgiaFootball 🐶🔥 pic.twitter.com/AiFVC7quGK
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) May 5, 2025
What Influenced the Outcome for Georgia?
So, why did Curtis ultimately pick Georgia? It comes down to relationships and a sense of home. Curtis and his family have built a strong bond with the Bulldogs’ coaching staff, particularly offensive coordinator Mike Bobo.
KEEP READING: Everything To Know About Jared Curtis: NIL Deals, Parents, and Why Georgia Thinks He’s the Future
“We’ve been to Georgia so many times,” Curtis’ father, Jesse, told ESPN. “We’ve got great relationships with those coaches. We just know them all so well.” That familiarity gave Georgia an edge, even after Curtis briefly stepped away from his initial commitment.
On the other hand, Oregon also made a strong push. Head coach Dan Lanning and offensive coordinator Will Stein had Curtis’ attention, with some insiders noting that Curtis was torn between the two schools. Recruiting analyst Tom Loy even gave Oregon a slight edge at some point, citing Curtis’ gut feeling leaning toward the Ducks.
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