Georgia’s 2026 recruiting class took a hit ahead of their Week 8 matchup with Texas, as five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, the No. 4 recruit in the ESPN Junior 300 and the top quarterback prospect for the 2026 cycle, decommitted from the Bulldogs. Curtis, a standout at Nashville Christian School in Tennessee, originally committed to Georgia in March after an impressive sophomore season where he threw for 2,522 yards and 25 touchdowns with nine interceptions.
In a statement posted to X, Curtis explained his decision to reopen his recruitment, saying, “This morning I spoke with coach Smart and [offensive coordinator Mike Bobo] and let them know that I still love Georgia, but would like to take some more time to explore all my options so I can make the best, most informed decision for my future. I let them know it just doesn’t seem right or fair to stay committed while checking out other programs. I want people to know where I stand and I’ve learned that making big decisions takes time.”
With Curtis backing off his pledge, Georgia’s 2026 class is now down to two committed prospects. His decision to explore other options will surely attract the attention of numerous top programs looking to land the highly sought-after quarterback.
Jared Curtis, who became the first commit in Georgia’s 2026 recruiting class earlier this spring, has reopened his recruitment after initially choosing the Bulldogs over powerhouse programs like Alabama, Texas, Ohio State, and Oklahoma on March 23. The 6’4″, 255-pound quarterback gained national attention after a stellar freshman season at Nashville Christian, where he threw for 27 touchdowns and led the team to a 10-3 record. Curtis was also a runner-up for Tennessee’s Mr. Football in 2022 and has continued his strong play, guiding his team to a 6-1 start this fall.
In his statement, Curtis emphasized his current focus on his high school season and leadership: “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.”
With Curtis’ decommitment, Georgia now has just two prospects in their 2026 class—four-star cornerbacks Jontavius Wynn (No. 159 in the ESPN Junior 300) and Dominick Kelly (No. 247), both of whom joined the Bulldogs in July.
As Kirby Smart aims to secure his ninth consecutive top-three class, Georgia’s 2025 recruiting group currently ranks fifth in ESPN’s team rankings. Curtis is now one of two uncommitted quarterbacks among ESPN’s top 10 pocket passers for the 2026 class, alongside four-star Ryder Lyons. Meanwhile, all but one of the top-five dual-threat quarterbacks in the 2026 cycle have committed, with Helaman Casuga recently pledging to Texas A&M.
No. 5 Georgia will face off against No. 1 Texas on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC), a high-stakes game on the national stage.
