Jared Curtis

Physical Profile

At 6'4" and roughly 225 pounds, Curtis carries prototype SEC quarterback dimensions with a frame that is already collegiate-caliber. His youth background at running back shows up in his lower-body strength and contact balance — he's a legitimately powerful runner, not just a scramble-to-survive athlete, evidenced by 614 rushing yards and 11 rushing TDs as a senior. The rapid, upper-body-heavy release generates easy torque, letting him access all levels and corners of the field without needing a full platform.

Play Style

A creative, confident distributor who blends within-structure efficiency and off-script playmaking better than any QB in the class. He generates velocity with a quick, compact release, layers throws to all three levels, and manipulates safeties with his eyes. When plays break down, he's dangerous in two directions — he can reset and throw from adjusted platforms or tuck it and run with genuine power, finishing runs through contact rather than sliding away from it. Plays with visible swagger and command of the huddle.

Strengths

• Elite arm talent with precision to all field quadrants — completed 65.9% as a senior (141-of-214) for 2,073 yards with a 36:6 TD-to-INT ratio, and his ball placement punishes defenses that bite on play-action
• Advanced pocket craft for a prep QB — drops his elbow to find throwing lanes against pressure, extends plays with subtle movement, and can work full-field progressions with eye manipulation rather than locking onto first reads
• Rare experience baseline — more than 1,000 career pass attempts and back-to-back state championships mean he's processed more live reps than nearly any QB in the class, which is why 247Sports tabs him as the most ready-to-play passer at the top of the board

Areas to Improve

• Level of competition — TN Division II Class A defenses did not consistently stress his processing speed, so the jump to SEC defensive backfields and disguised coverages will be his first true calibration test
• Structural discipline — his off-script creativity is a weapon, but he'll need to prove he can stay on schedule within a college system rather than defaulting to hero-ball when early reads are cloudy

College Projection

Immediate contender for the starting job. With Diego Pavia's eligibility exhausted, Curtis was recruited explicitly as his successor, and national analysts project him as potentially the only true freshman starter among top-5 QBs in the class — an 'instant impact' player for the 2026 season. Expect him to open his career as QB1 or win the job within his first fall camp, with a realistic three-year arc to All-SEC production if the supporting cast holds.

NFL Outlook

Legitimate first-round trajectory. He checks every early-round box scouts covet: prototype size (6'4", 225), plus arm talent, dual-threat value, and an unusually deep experience base entering college. The Vanderbilt choice means his development and his draft stock will be scrutinized against what he'd have faced behind Georgia's roster, but three years of live SEC starts — rather than sitting behind an established starter — could accelerate his evaluation. If the tools translate against SEC competition, he profiles as a potential top-half-of-round-one pick in the 2029 draft cycle.

Best Fit

A pro-style spread that marries RPO/play-action structure with sanctioned off-script freedom — exactly the offense Vanderbilt built around Pavia. He's at his best in a scheme that uses his legs as a designed weapon (QB power, zone-read) while letting his arm attack vertically off run-action, with a play-caller who trusts him to create when protection breaks down rather than scripting him into a pure rhythm-passer role.