Well, the top QB in the country, Jared Curtis, has been the King of the Hill for a while now. But, a fierce recruiting competition has narrowed the field from six contenders to a final showdown between Georgia and Oregon. Here’s where it gets spicy—Curtis pledged to Georgia before deciding to reopen shop and see what’s out there. While Kirby Smart and Mike Bobo are playing the long game, Dan Lanning and Oregon aren’t just here for a snack; they aim for complete victory. The real question? After all this turmoil, will Curtis return to Athens, leaving Oregon behind?

Now, we all know for a while that Jared Curtis has family ties with Georgia. And that’s among the main reasons he initially moved towards them. Now that it’s back on the list, there’s a possibility Jared will end up there. And even Dawgs insider Rusty Mansell says the same to On3 recruits.

“You know, this one goes back and forth. You know, Steve Wiltfong and I talk every week, and this is the one thing that I’ve kind of been consistent with. There’s a lot of pro-Georgia behind the scenes in his corner. Now, that doesn’t mean this is going to be the final decision because this is a big-boy recruitment. I think the proximity of Athens to Nashville does not hurt Georgia at all,” Rusty said. Now, that’s not something Dan Lanning would want to hear.

Look, Jarid Curtis’ recruitment remains crucial for Dan Lanning and his squad. It will not just give their 2026 class depth, but it also fill up a big hole, their previously held four-star quarterback Jonas Williams left in the team. Yes, you read that right. This guy flipped his commitment from Oregon to USC; that’s just like ditching the Rebel Alliance to join the Empire.

Even Rusty feels doubting Dan Lanning’s skills is foolishness as he says, “But do not think for one minute that Oregon is not selling who they are, their program, their quarterbacks, what they’ve done, those types of things.” And let’s not ignore what Jared said back in October about Lanning’s program, “My interest in Oregon is above the other right now. It’s my relationship with Coach Stein and Coach Lanning. ” 

But the silver line is even Kirby Smart has someone like Coach Stein on his team and it’s their QB coach Montgomery VanGorder, who keeps checking on them. That stuff matters. And let’s not ignore the hometown factor. As Jared Curtis’ home sits way closer to Athens than Eugene, just like Auburn was right there in the mix—until they were out of the final list.

Plus, let’s not forget it’s the same guy who made comparisons with Dawgs great Matthew Stafford’s arm talent. That’s really not a guy Kirby Smart will miss out on! Now, let’s talk about some cash this guy’s making even before making a single snap in CFB.

Jared Curtis’ lucrative NIL deals

Well, Jared Curtis’ recruitment has turned into a full-blown tug-of-war. The 5-star quarterback walked back on his Georgia commitment, and that gamble paid off big. Now that it’s a two-team race, things need to move pretty quickly, especially in this fast-paced NIL world that changes the notion every other day.

So, why this sudden rush by schools to recruit Curtis? Simple. The kid’s a walking record book. In a mere 37 games, accumulating 7,665 passing yards? That’s crazy.

But although many programs are trying to recruit him, Georgia may have an advantage. As Rusty Mansell put it, “I’ve been really consistent on this one,” he said. “He has some really really pro-Georgia people in his circle. I mean, there are some people that really want him at Georgia. There’s some people that really believe in Mike Bobo.” But does that actually matter? Other schools sure don’t think so.

But let’s not overlook Oregon’s significant financial support from Nike and Phil Knight, giving them a major advantage in terms of finances. Curtis’ NIL value continues to rise, and Oregon has a track record of turning top quarterbacks into marketing stars, as seen with Bo Nix.

However, Jared Curtis capitalizes on this attention, with his NIL numbers speaking volumes. Before the 2025 season, the Tennessee native was valued at $2.8 million. According to On3, this has soared by $300K to an impressive $3.1 million. This isn’t new for Curtis, who has profited since his junior year, starting with a deal with Leaf Trading Cards last March.

And the company still offers his card collection for $79.99. By October, his NIL worth had reached $479K and now exceeds $3 million. Despite excelling in the NIL arena, Curtis has remained silent about his recruitment. Georgia is watching closely, Oregon is pushing hard, and time is ticking.