Tackett Curtis, USC’s freshman phenom at linebacker, continues to defy expectations and perform well beyond his years. At just 19, Curtis became only the second true freshman since 1978 to start in an opening game for USC at inside linebacker—following in the footsteps of Cameron Smith, who achieved the same feat in 2015. Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 255 pounds, Curtis quickly earned the respect of his teammates and coaches, even being nicknamed “Captain America” for his relentless work ethic and leadership on the field.

Curtis made waves when he committed to USC on July 18, 2022, and wasted no time making his mark. His college debut came against San José State at the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. But his football roots run deep. Hailing from Many High School, Curtis honed his skills early on and quickly rose to prominence, catching the attention of scouts nationwide. Now, as a freshman at USC, he’s proving that the hype was real, showing grit and tenacity in every play.

Football runs in the Curtis bloodline, and it’s no surprise Tackett has made such an early name for himself. Let’s take a look at his family background and see what’s fueled this young linebacker’s meteoric rise.

Who is Tackett Curtis’ support?

Tackett Curtis is the son of Leslie and Moses Curtis and he has three siblings named Gunner, Carson, and Lola. Among them, Gunner, 7½ years older than Tackett, was Mike The Tiger, when he was a student in Baton Rouge. Not only his brother but his entire family was connected to LSU. His mother, Leslie, was a pharmacist at his high school. Alongside, Tackett’s parents were die-hard fans of the LSU Tigers along with his grandfather, who had an immense love for the team as it was Tackett’s home state dream school.

Moreover, his uncle, Jess Curtis, head coach of Many High, shared a very deep connection with Tackett and was a die-hard Tiger fan. Jess coached Tackett when he was in high school. On top of this, during an interview with KALB-TV, Tackett said, “To play for my uncle is something I’ve always dreamed of,“. It seems like the #1 overall defender of 2023 has an athletic family background, which helps the LB to achieve success on the football journey. But no more information is publicly available regarding Tackett’s parents. However, despite having a family full of LSU fans, the four-star linebacker chose Wisconsin. Is not it quite weird? Let me tell you the actual story behind it.

Why Did They Support His Decision To Not Go To LSU?

The Curtis family’s deep love for LSU has been twisted and used against them; because of what some have perceived as a “disconnect” between the Curtis family and the LSU coaching staff. Numerous messages labeled the young man as “a traitor,” “a lover of Bama,” and worse before even bothering to look into why there was ever misunderstanding in the first place. However, one source close to the family stated, “Tackett is not waiting on that offer, let’s put it that way,“.

In actuality, Tackett would adore playing for LSU, but he did not feel supported by LSU supporters, and worst of all, Curtis felt ignored by the Tigers’ recruiting staff. Along with that, Curtis stated, “There’s an arrogance….they think they can get any player out of the state of Louisiana...”. Lastly, disturbed by the rumors, gossip, and outright lies being spread about his son, Tackett’s father was on the verge of closing the door on the Tigers. In addition, he mentioned, “This situation has never been about Tackett’s refusal to go to LSU or his disinterest….it’s actually rooted in the Tigers’ continued failure to establish a meaningful and lasting relationship with the #1 overall defender of 2023,“. Hence, you might understand the level of involvement Tackett’s parents have in his football career.