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Five-star prospect Jared Curtis, from Nashville Christian School in Tennessee, is the No. 1 quarterback in the class of 2026. The signal-caller led his school to a TSSAA football state championship on Thursday with a 49-21 victory over Columbia Academy.
Curtis made headlines not only for his on-field performance but also for the South Carolina towel he wore during the game. This subtle hint sparked rumors about the Gamecocks' position in his recruitment. South Carolina’s 2026 recruiting class ranks No. 9 nationally and No. 5 in the Southeastern Conference, with six committed players.
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Curtis initially committed to Georgia in March but reopened his recruitment in October. Since then, he has not established a new timeline for his decision.
Curtis has received offers from more than half of the 68 Power Four schools, and his top schools are Oregon, Georgia, Ole Miss, MTSU, Auburn, Alabama, Ohio State, Southern Cal and South Carolina. He visited Alabama for the Iron Bowl on Nov. 30, where he witnessed the Crimson Tide’s dominant 28-14 win over Auburn.
Jared Curtis named the Gatorade Tennessee Player of the Year
Jared Curtis capped off an incredible junior season by leading Nashville Christian to a dominant 49-21 victory over Columbia Academy in the DII-A BlueCross Bowl on Thursday at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. He accounted for six touchdowns and 218 total yards in the win.
Nashville Christian head coach Jeff Brothers praised Curtis' mental development, saying he has made significant strides “from the shoulders up.” That growth was evident throughout a season in which he completed 179 of 255 passes for 2,830 yards, 40 touchdowns and only three interceptions.
“Winning a state championship, for sure, was more fun,” Curtis told The Tennessean. “Until I’m in college, this is more fun. You can’t go to college without getting through high school. So, I’m just taking it season by season and I’m already ready to come back for next year.”
On Friday, Curtis was named the Gatorade Tennessee Player of the Year. He is also a finalist for the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football award for Division II-A, with the winner set to be announced on Tuesday.
Beyond his on-field exploits, Jared Curtis has also secured a multi-year endorsement deal with Leaf Trading Cards.
