A new pose

Curtis' signature throw starts with his arm stretched past his facemask and his body floating, a look Vanderbilt fans may come to recognize fast.

“his legs sprawled out in midair”

NFL stuff early

He already makes throws across his body with defenders nearby, including a touchdown to tight end Walt Taylor against Delaware.

“Rolodex of NFL throws”

Practice keeps flashing

Vanderbilt sees these plays almost daily. One day it is a tight window ball, the next it is a sideline throw that should not fit.

Spring gave a preview

In the spring game, Curtis rolled left near the sideline and still hit a tight end in the chest for 15 yards.

Lea sees rare arm

Clark Lea compared Curtis' release and ball flight to Jay Cutler, then pointed to Matthew Stafford when talking about his arm angles.

“The way he manipulates arm angles reminds me a lot of what we see from Matthew Stafford.”

Flash needs polish

Vanderbilt wants Curtis to master the routine plays too. The spectacular throws are real, but consistency is the job now.

Three-year clock

The piece frames Curtis as a likely three-year college player. Less would mean trouble, more would mean he missed his ceiling.

Cutler is the bar

Curtis has a chance to chase Vanderbilt's biggest quarterback legacy. Jay Cutler is the pro standard, while Diego Pavia is the local legend to follow.

Teammates see calm

Tight end Jayvontay Conner says Curtis carries pressure lightly, even with so much placed on him before he has fully arrived.

“He’s ready to hoop at all times.”

The buzz came early

Nate Bargatze recruited him on College GameDay. Pavia, Tim Corbin and Mark Byington were all tracking Curtis before he won the job.

The job is his

Curtis beat out veteran Blaze Berlowitz to become Vanderbilt's starting quarterback. The waiting period is over.

“The Curtis era begins now, buckle up.”

Ups and misses

His first games and fall camp hint at both big plays and freshman mistakes. Vanderbilt is accepting that trade for his growth and the program's future.

Big dreams need him

Starting Berlowitz might have been safer, but Curtis is the path that keeps Vanderbilt thinking about a College Football Playoff push.

Built around one arm

Vanderbilt has shaped its plan like a team with a gifted young quarterback on a rookie deal. Now it must protect, build and develop him.

He chose this

Curtis left Georgia, a title contender, because he believed Vanderbilt could become his own stage. That choice carries ambition with it.

A bold promise

Curtis told Pavia he would win the national championship Pavia could not. Pavia laughed, but the confidence behind it matters.

“I’m going to win the national championship you couldn’t win”

Pavia signs off

Pavia has compared Curtis to Patrick Mahomes and called him Vanderbilt's next major figure. That blessing matters after Pavia changed the program.

“He’s the next big thing here”

The ceiling changed

Curtis has not done what Pavia did yet, but his arm talent, athleticism and confidence give Vanderbilt a quarterback it can take into any game.

“At least, it has the quarterback to do it.”