Jared Curtis

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-3, 230 lbs. Taller than 51% and heavier than 98% of 2026 Quarterback prospects in the SEC Scouts database (128 with a listed size).

Play Style

Curtis is a rhythm-and-timing pocket passer who also has enough athleticism to extend plays. On film he wins from the pocket with clean, repeatable mechanics, quick eyes and anticipation, so he throws accurately on the basic concepts and still has the arm for vertical shots and outside-the-numbers throws. Under pressure he usually slides and resets rather than bailing, but he will tuck the ball and punish defenses that drop eight or lose rush-lane discipline, especially in the red zone (2 rushing TD against Delaware alone). He is a point guard in the passing game who can also take over a game himself.

Strengths

• Arm talent and the ability to change speeds. 247Sports' Andrew Ivins notes his 'powerful base helps serve up lasers to both the second and third levels,' and that he is 'adept at altering the velocity and trajectory when needed.' He can throw a seam ball with touch and drive a deep out on a rope from the same drop.
• Accuracy and decision-making. As a senior he completed 65.9% of his passes (141/214) for 2,073 yards with a 36:6 TD-to-INT ratio. In the Division II-A state final he went 15-of-20 for 254 yards and 5 TD in a 59-7 win. Over his career he produced 177 total TD and more than 12,000 yards, with low turnover numbers throughout.
• Movement inside the pocket. He side-steps pressure with small movements to stay ready to throw, and he will drop his arm angle to get the ball around rushers. That skill is carrying over to the college level.
• Poise and a strong second-half response to struggles. In his first college start (W 35-31 vs. NC State, 9/19/2026) he started slowly, then took over after halftime and finished 20-of-34 for 277 yards and 3 TD, plus 64 rushing yards. That kind of in-game recovery from a true freshman is a real indicator for his development.

Areas to Improve

• Level of competition and speed of processing. He faced Division II-A defenses in high school, so SEC defensive speed, disguised coverages and post-snap rotation are all new to him. His early college ball-security numbers reflect that: 4 TD and 3 INT on 98 attempts through four games. He needs to speed up his full-field reads and avoid forcing throws into windows that close faster than they did in high school.
• Consistency from the first snap. The slow start against NC State points to pre-snap diagnosis and game-plan comfort that improve with reps and film study. Georgia's defense in Athens, where he returns as the flipped former commit, will be the first real test of his command at the line and his protection calls.

College Projection

This projection is already coming true. After relief work against Austin Peay (7/9, 60 yds) and Delaware (14/22, 210 yds, 1 TD passing, 2 TD rushing), Clark Lea named him the starter on 9/15/2026. Through four games he is 63-of-98 (64.3%) for 746 yards, 4 TD and 3 INT, with 133 rushing yards and 2 TD. Expect normal true-freshman swings in 2026, especially against SEC defenses. He projects as a multi-year starter who could be one of the best quarterbacks in the conference by his sophomore season, and he is the kind of player who could change the ceiling of Vanderbilt's program after Diego Pavia.

NFL Outlook

He has first-round tools: the frame, arm talent, accuracy, pocket movement and more athleticism than a typical pocket passer. He has also shown he can produce against Power 5 competition right away. If his processing and ball security keep improving against SEC defenses, he fits the profile of a Day 1 pick in his first eligible draft (after the 2028 season). The main risks are the jump in competition level and how well Vanderbilt can surround him with talent and protection.

Best Fit

A pro-style or spread offense built on the dropback game, with play-action, intermediate-to-deep concepts and some designed quarterback runs mixed in. It should use his arm and his ability to process from the pocket without making him a heavy-volume runner. Vanderbilt fits well: he gets to start right away in his hometown in a scheme that already uses quarterback mobility, and his development there is fully in the spotlight, which should help his draft profile.