Georgia’s grip on one of its most prized recruits might be loosening. Five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, the nation’s No. 1 prospect at his position for the 2026 class, has become the center of growing speculation after taking a visit to Vanderbilt. Curtis chose Georgia over Oregon back in May and has been one of the cornerstones of the Bulldogs’ 2026 recruiting class. But with Vanderbilt putting together one of its best seasons in decades, the hometown program might be making things complicated. Now, with On3’s Steve Wiltfong’s latest update, the concerns keep increasing.

As per Wiltfong’s update on the Rivals, even though Curtis is hooked in with Georgia, he’s giving a fair chance to Vanderbilt, too. “Well, I just want to emphasize that. I think that Jared Curtis is giving Vanderbilt a genuine look, but he is excited to be committed to the Georgia Bulldogs, and he is slated to be back in Athens for Georgia’s game against Texas. And if anything transpires with Vanderbilt, sources I talked to said nothing is imminent now,” Wiltfong said. This 6’3″, 225 lb weapon is the no. 1 quarterback in the country and a major reason behind Georgia’s second-best 2026 recruiting class.

So, losing him is not on the cards for Kirby Smart. But Curtis’s recent visit to Vanderbilt and his growing friendship with Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia have added a new strain to the story. The two quarterbacks have reportedly built a bond during Curtis’s recent visits. Pavia attended one of Curtis’s high school games, and now Curtis has returned the gesture by visiting Vanderbilt.“They’ve had good conversations with Jared, good conversations with his camp, you know, NIL conversations, all of those things. It’s a program that’s on the rise. Diego Pavia and Jared have made a connection,” Wiltfong added.

That might sound reassuring, but the timing is delicate. Vanderbilt is 7-1 this season and just cracked the AP Top 10 for the first time in 88 years. After their win over Missouri, the Commodores’ rise under Clark Lea has been impossible to ignore. For a quarterback from Nashville, that momentum makes the in-state program hard to overlook.

“He’s excited to be committed to the Georgia Bulldogs”@SWiltfong_ has the latest on 5-star QB Jared Curtis after a weekend trip to Vanderbilt 🐶

But Kirby Smart and Georgia offer something Vanderbilt can’t, a clear path to early playing time and a proven track record of quarterback development. While Vanderbilt already has three-star QB Michael Mitchell Jr. waiting in the wings, Smart has built a reputation for turning his passers into stars. Just look at the examples. Stetson Bennett, once a walk-on, led Georgia to its first national championship in more than four decades during the 2021 season. Then there’s Jake Fromm, who threw at least 20 touchdowns in each of his three seasons in Athens and never recorded more than 10 interceptions.

This is one of Georgia’s biggest selling points in keeping Curtis locked in. As Wiltfong noted, “The idea of playing for Georgia, the caliber of players that Georgia puts around their quarterback on both sides of the ball, the consistency, the magnitude, and the relationships.” Smart and his staff know exactly what’s at stake, and they’re doing everything possible to make sure their five-star centerpiece stays committed to the Bulldogs.

Kirby Smart’s big step to keep Jared Curtis on the team

Jared Curtis is the cornerstone of Kirby Smart’s team, and keeping him on the team remains their top priority. So the moment Jared Curtis planned on visiting Vanderbilt’s game, Smart pulled a classic move. As CBS Sports’ Tom Loy hits X, confirming that the OC and QB coach went straight to Nashville and met with him. “@GeorgiaFootball offensive coordinator and QB coach Mike Bobo out here in Nashville checking in on five-star quarterback and Bulldogs commit @Jaredcurtis37. On Saturday, Curtis will head over to watch @VandyFootball.” 

Now, even though Jared Curtis is going to visit Georgia for their game against Texas, the fear of losing him stays intact. Knowing the fact that Curtis had already once decommitted from the program, looking for other opportunities, and then came back in to join them. What makes the push even more evident is his resume, as this season he has already recorded 1,005 yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. Last season, he completed 179 of 255 passes for 2,830 yards with 40 TDs, leading his team to a 12-1 record.

With both teams in contention to fight, let’s wait and see if Georgia can keep him close.