Fake news? Chaos erupts as 5-star QB Jared Curtis denies reports of flipping to Vanderbilt originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
College football recruiting has given us wild moments before, but Tuesday delivered something straight out of a sitcom.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMORE: Vanderbilt lands blockbuster flip from 5-star QB Jared Curtis
Late Tuesday morning, recruiting insider Hayes Fawcett dropped a bomb:Five-Star Plus quarterback Jared Curtis had flipped from Georgia to Vanderbilt.
Big news. Shocking news. The type of news that makes Georgia fans refresh their phones until the battery gives up.
Except there was one tiny problem.
Moments later, Curtis himself opened his app and posted:
“Don’t know where all this is coming from. Haven’t had a chance to talk to either school yet. I’ll keep y’all posted.”
Nothing says “recruiting drama” like a recruit refuting the breaking news about himself in real time. It felt like someone announcing a wedding and the groom replying, “Wait… what wedding?”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDid he flip? Did he not flip? Did anyone know?
While Fawcett stood by his reporting, fans on both sides stared at their screens like they were watching a tennis match.Georgia fans went from “fake news” to “oh no” in two tweets.Vanderbilt fans started cautiously Googling where the “5-star section” of the stadium might be.
What Curtis would bring to Vanderbilt
If the commitment holds, and in recruiting, we never assume anything, he starts with the team, Curtis would instantly become the most decorated high-school recruit the Commodores have ever landed.
He’s Rivals’ No. 1 quarterback in the 2026 class, 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, and already built like someone who knows where the weight room is. His film shows a strong arm, creativity outside the pocket, and the ability to turn broken plays into highlight material.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAs a junior, he completed over 70 percent of his passes for 2,830 yards and 40 touchdowns, plus 18 rushing scores. His senior numbers were tracking the same way before an injury shortened his season.
If he signs, Vanderbilt would get a quarterback with the tools to compete early, push the ceiling of the offense, and give Clark Lea a centerpiece for the program’s long-term build.
Who Vanderbilt potentially beat for the 5-star QB
Curtis originally chose Georgia over Oregon and had interest from Alabama, Ohio State, and South Carolina. Flipping a quarterback with that level of attention is the kind of move that gets noticed across the SEC.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEven with plenty of time before signing day, it is the sort of commitment that can change the trajectory of a class—and maybe the confidence of an entire fan base.
The bottom line
Tuesday didn’t bring a straightforward announcement.It brought confusion, quotes, denials, confirmations, and a five-star quarterback who briefly looked like he was correcting his own news cycle.
But in the end, one thing became clear:
If this flip holds, Vanderbilt just positioned itself for one of the most important quarterback additions in school history.
More college football:
Lane Kiffin spurns Ole Miss for LSU in final decision for 2026
Why Ole Miss won't have Lane Kiffin for College Football Playoff
How much money LSU is giving Lane Kiffin to leave Ole Miss
Complete winners, losers from Lane Kiffin's move to LSU
