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A short stay, indeed! Back in March, the Bulldogs thought they had hit the jackpot when Jared Curtis, the top recruit of the 2026 class and a 5-star quarterback, committed to their program. But fast forward to October 17, and Curtis decided to de-commit, leaving the Bulldogs with a big fish that got away. Now, the buzz is all about what’s next for this standout QB. But it also raises the question: is all the hype around this junior from Nashville Christian School really justified?

Well, Curtis’s performance so far speaks for itself. In his sophomore year, he’s been turning heads, finishing with just nine interceptions while throwing for 2,522 yards and 25 touchdowns. His Nashville Christian School is off to an impressive 6-1 start, and his leadership has played a big part in their success. And let’s not forget—he was already making waves during his freshman season.

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The quarterback made a big impression on the recruiting world when he led Nashville to a 10-3 record in his rookie season in 2022 and passed for 27 touchdowns. Therefore, it is quite reasonable that the surprising withdrawal of Jared Curtis, who was thought to be the Bulldogs’ Carson Beck of the future, has rocked Georgia’s recruiting scene. However, the star athlete didn’t assure about his final commitment as he stated, “My focus now is taking care of business during the rest of our high school season and being a great teammate and leader. I look forward to making the most of an open recruiting process in the months ahead.”

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If you are unaware, he picked Georgia on March 23 above Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, and Alabama, but he has since changed his mind despite Georgia’s strong season. And now he’s exploring options like Oregon, Auburn, and Oklahoma as potential landing spots. Well, de-committing from a team like Georgia might seem like a thoughtless move for a young player. But everything will become extremely evident to you if you look at his marketability or NIL valuation.

Know about Jared Curtis’ NIL deals

Despite only being a junior in high school, Curtis signed his first NIL contract with Leaf Trading Cards in March, when he committed to Georgia. On their website, the corporation displayed Curtis’ autographed playing card, which fans could purchase for $79.99. But Jared Curtis is not the first well-known high school recruit to sign an NIL deal; Julian Lewis, a 2025 quarterback, has already done so. However, the specifics of this agreement have not yet been made public.

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As of now, according to On3 NIL Valuation, the standout quarterback for Nashville has currently received an astounding NIL valuation of almost $479K. In addition, the celebrity athlete has a sizable following on social media—4.2K on X and 8.5K on Instagram—which guarantees future endorsement deals.

Well, the talented athlete has decided to decommit from Kirby Smart’s team, seeking a better fit for his future. While many wonder if there’s a better place than Georgia, the athlete’s decision is likely driven by a desire to maximize his marketability and NIL opportunities. Will this move pay off?