Vanderbilt Names Freshman Jared Curtis Starting Quarterback
Vanderbilt Names Freshman Jared Curtis Starting Quarterback
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Key Points
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Curtis entered the Delaware game with 4:44 remaining in the first quarter after Berlowitz went 0-for-4 passing on Vanderbilt’s first two drives, both of which ended in punts.
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Berlowitz’s turnover came during a two-minute drill when he attempted to hurdle a defender near midfield, was clipped, and fumbled; Delaware recovered, and he did not return afterward except to take a knee at the end of the half.
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Curtis’s takeover followed a blocked punt by sophomore linebacker Austin Howard that Delaware returned for a touchdown, giving Vanderbilt’s staff time to reconsider its quarterback decision before Curtis entered the next sequence.
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Curtis became the first Vanderbilt freshman to record three touchdowns in a game since Sept. 17, 2022.
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Head coach Clark Lea credited former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s Nashville profile with helping make the program’s opportunities more tangible to Curtis: “The way he created almost a celebrity and energy for himself in Nashville, it brought to life a college football community in Nashville that showed up to watch the fireworks, and Jared was paying attention to that.”
Vanderbilt named true freshman Jared Curtis its starting quarterback for Week 3 against NC State after he outplayed fourth-year starter Blaze Berlowitz in a 35-26 win over Delaware. WTOP Curtis entered early in the first quarter and finished 14-of-22 for 210 yards and a touchdown, adding two rushing scores. Berlowitz, who won the preseason job and started the first two games, managed only 178 passing yards through two weeks and struggled to move the offense.
Curtis is a five-star recruit from the Nashville area and al.com reports he is the highest-ranked player in Vanderbilt program history. The freshman flipped his commitment from Georgia to the Commodores. Vanderbilt faces 1-1 NC State on Saturday in what 247Sports calls the Wolfpack's best chance to earn a Power Four road win under coach Dave Doeren.
Curtis Seized His Chance Early Against Delaware
Berlowitz stumbled from the opening drive. He went 0-for-4 on Vanderbilt's first two possessions, both ending in punts. A blocked punt by linebacker Austin Howard gave the staff a moment to rethink its strategy when Delaware returned the block for a touchdown. Curtis entered with 4:44 left in the first quarter and never looked back.
Curtis became the first Vanderbilt freshman to record three touchdowns in a single game since September 17, 2022. WTOP notes that Berlowitz's struggles included a costly fumble during a two-minute drill when he attempted to hurdle a defender near midfield, got clipped, and lost the ball to Delaware.
Berlowitz's Preseason Win Could Not Survive Opening Games
Berlowitz had won the competition before the season even started. He took the field for games one and two but found little rhythm. Through two weeks he had thrown for just 178 yards — a sign the offense was not clicking. The fourth-year quarterback's early mistakes forced the coaching staff to act.
Coach Clark Lea abandoned the two-quarterback approach and committed to Curtis moving forward. WTOP reports that Lea credited former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia with helping shape Curtis's interest in the program. Lea said Pavia "created almost a celebrity and energy for himself in Nashville," which "brought to life a college football community" that showed up to watch.
A Historic Recruit Stepping Into His Moment
Curtis flipped from Georgia to join Vanderbilt as the consensus top-five recruit in the 2026 signing class. al.com confirms he is the highest-rated player ever to sign with the Commodores. The Nashville-area native had every reason to stay home — and the program had every reason to believe in him from day one.
NC State arrives at Nashville on Saturday as a team searching for its first Power Four road win under Dave Doeren. 247Sports reports the Wolfpack are 1-1 and have played only four games under their current coach. Vanderbilt looks ready to test a young, hungry opponent with a freshman who just proved he belongs.
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