Vanderbilt’s 5-Star Freshman QB Makes First Start
Vanderbilt will start 5-star freshman QB Jared Curtis against NC State after he accounted for three touchdowns in the Commodores' Week 2 win.
The update
Vanderbilt announced that 5-star true freshman quarterback Jared Curtis will make his first career start this weekend against NC State. The move comes after Curtis led the Commodores to a 35-26 victory over Delaware last weekend, accounting for three of the team’s four touchdowns. He finished the game 14-of-22 passing for 210 yards and a touchdown, adding two rushing scores.
Why it matters
Curtis is the highest-rated recruit in Vanderbilt football history. He flipped his commitment from Georgia to Vanderbilt on the eve of the early signing period last December. He was the No. 1 pocket passer in the 2026 class according to ESPN and the No. 2 overall prospect in the cycle. The Commodores are 2-0 heading into SEC play, and this move signals a shift in offensive philosophy.
What to watch
How Curtis handles the pressure of starting as a true freshman against Power Five competition. He will be under center at home at 12:45 p.m. ET on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
Sources
- Yahoo Sports — Context on the quarterback switch and Curtis's background.
- espn.com — Curtis's recruiting profile and background.
- cbssports.com — Curtis's performance metrics and Lea's comments on the decision.
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