# Jared Curtis gives Vanderbilt permission to dream > Vanderbilt is betting its biggest football hopes on freshman quarterback Jared Curtis, whose talent has already changed the mood in Nashville. - Title: Jared Curtis gives Vanderbilt permission to dream | Shortify - Summary: Vanderbilt is betting its biggest football hopes on freshman quarterback Jared Curtis, whose talent has already changed the mood in Nashville. Curtis has not… - Keywords: jared curtis, vanderbilt, vanderbilt football, clark lea, diego pavia, jay cutler, patrick mahomes, blaze berlowitz, college football playoff, georgia, nashville, nfl draft - Source: Vanderbilt Commodores — https://si.com/college/vanderbilt/football/welcome-to-the-jared-curtis-era-where-the-impossible-seems-possible-for-vanderbilt-football - Published: 2026-09-15T19:35:45+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: jared curtis, vanderbilt, vanderbilt football, clark lea, diego pavia, jay cutler, patrick mahomes, blaze berlowitz, college football playoff, georgia, nashville, nfl draft ## 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. ## Key takeaway Curtis has not proved it all yet, but Vanderbilt now has the rare quarterback talent that can make old limits feel negotiable.