On3 Rivals ranked Georgia #4 in the 2026 recruiting class, but they lost out on the #1 QB. For HC Kirby Smart, Jared Curtis’ commitment has proved challenging as he chased the Nashville native twice. However, hometown legacy, Vanderbilt finally beat him on the early signing day. It’s a significant blow to the Bulldogs, with the head coach admitting to ‘anti-climactic’ feelings.

“That’s not completely abnormal for kids to change their minds,” he said to the press on Thursday. “It’s not a signee, so you know that. You have plans in place. It’s not like it’s surprising. I don’t think it changes how you recruit.”

Last year, the Class of 2026 No. 1 QB gave his verbal pledge to Georgia. However, he soon decommitted in October 2024, after Ducks HC Dan Lanning pursued him aggressively. By May of the following year, Smart successfully secured his recommitment. But it was a tough call for the quarterback. In a conversation with DawgsQH, he shared that after visiting both Eugene and Athens, he remained 50-50 until the day before the commitment ceremony.

Finally, Georgia’s powerhouse status, along with Coach Smart’s ‘laid back-funny’ attitude, led him to don the Black and Red again. His pledge was a significant boost for Georgia’s upcoming class. Helping the Dawgs onboard blue-chip talent, he tried to recruit Class of 2026 No. 1 offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell. Despite his efforts, Cantwell went to Miami and signed with Mario Cristobal’s program this week. On the other hand, Curtis flipped to Vanderbilt.

It’s not really over until a commit signs with the program. And that’s when Coach Kirby got beat down again. The 49-year-old head coach chased away the ‘Nike University’ in Oregon, but fell flat in front of hometown legacy, Vanderbilt. Armed with Gunner Stockton and the rest of the QB class, Curtis was likely to compete for the QB1 gig, given that Stockton still has eligibility left.

Meanwhile, the Commodores are on the rise. QB Diego Pavia led them to national prominence, and since then, they haven’t looked back. With an 11-2 record, they are fighting for a playoff spot. Additionally, Pavia has exhausted his eligibility this season. Naturally, Curtis saw both opportunity and potential.

“Being here in Nashville and seeing what Vandy has been doing this season has been amazing,” he said after signing with Vanderbilt. “And over the past few weeks, I felt more and more that I wanna be a part of that, to be close to home, to play in front of family and friends, and to be what I love to be, an underdog.”

Following his signing, backup quarterback Drew Dickey is reportedly planning to head to the transfer portal. For Curtis, Vandy provides a multitude of opportunities. Even Vanderbilt HC Clark Lea stated that Jared will have a chance to compete for the starting position.

Curtis makes his feelings clear as Kirby Smart remains “excited” about the upcoming class

“I do love Georgia,” Curtis said in a social media post. “I love the coaches and players there. They have been so good to me and my family. They are the best program in the country for a reason. The past year it’s where I wanted to be and definitely where my parents have wanted me to go. But I gotta walk my path that feels right in my heart, at the end of the day this has to be my decision.”

Curtis’ decommitment dropped Georgia from the No. 2 to No. 4 recruiting class. Although Coach Kirby couldn’t get Jared Curtis, he is content with the rest of the unit.

“Really excited about that group. It was kind of anti-climactic like it usually is nowadays,” he added. “Excited about the guys we got. I always look at it like you look in reverse and you look back three years from now, and you value that class then.”

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The 2026 class includes five-star TE Kaiden Prontho, OT Ekene Ogboko, CB Justice Fitzpatrick, and others. After failing to secure Curtis’ pledge, Coach Smart failed to secure an elite prospect for the second time in three years. Dylan Raiola was the No. 2 quarterback in the Class of 2024. After decommitting from Ohio State, he gave his pledge to the Bulldogs. But Nebraska scooped him right in on signing day, leaving Smart and the Dawgs stunned.