School soccer’s prime 2026 QB picks Georgia – How he suits and what’s subsequent

5-star quarterback Jared Curtis, the No. 5 prospect within the 2026 ESPN 300, introduced his dedication to the Georgia Bulldogs over the Oregon Geese Monday, capping probably the most consequential recruitment thus far within the 2026 cycle.

Curtis, who decommitted from Georgia this previous October, is the No. 1 quarterback within the 2026 class. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound passer from Nashville took journeys to each Georgia and Oregon earlier this spring. Sources instructed ESPN that Curtis held in-home visits with offensive coordinators Mike Bobo (Georgia) and Will Stein (Oregon) final week and had conversations with each applications on Sunday afternoon prior to creating his determination.

Curtis’ return to the Bulldogs’ 2026 class marks an important recruiting victory for coach Kirby Good and his employees. Curtis now lands as the very best ranked of 4 ESPN 300 pledges in this system’s incoming class, a group of expertise that can absolutely develop this summer time as Georgia contends for a tenth consecutive top-three signing class. If he indicators later this yr, Curtis will arrive as this system’s third-highest-ranked quarterback pledge within the ESPN recruiting period, trailing solely Justin Fields (No. 1 general in 2018) and Matt Stafford (No. 5 in 2006).

Along with his pledge, Curtis cements his place because the potential quarterback of the long run in Athens behind anticipated starter Gunner Stockton, redshirt freshman Ryan Puglisi and 2025 signees Ryan Montgomery and Hezekiah Millender. Oregon, in the meantime, returns to the quarterback market looking for a 2026 passer after lacking out on a coveted goal in Curtis.

This is what it’s essential to find out about probably the most consequential dedication in 2026 cycle this spring because the busy recruiting season of late Might and June enters the horizon:

What makes Curtis so good?

Curtis has supreme arm expertise, excellent measurables and a aggressive temperament. He has good velocity given his dimension and is a greater athlete than he will get credit score for. What we like finest is his pure arm energy, velocity and skill to vary arm angles. He is a versatile thrower who could make off-platform throws look simple as a result of he can discover other ways to get the ball out with out dropping energy or energy. He is a artful runner who can prolong performs and get out of hassle.

If there’s a concern, it could be the extent of competitors he faces at Nashville Christian, a 2A personal faculty. He has but to be actually challenged towards elite competitors all through his highschool profession up to now. He’s at all times one of the best participant on the sphere. That being mentioned, he has a successful mentality, likes to compete and has talents that may’t be coached. — Tom Luginbill

Who does he examine to?

When present school gamers, Curtis, whereas a lot larger, compares most to LSU Tigers QB Garrett Nussmeier. Their talent units are eerily related. They’re each gunslingers, have reside arms and issues do not should be excellent for them to nonetheless make a play. Each gamers play the sport with supreme confidence and make gamers round them higher.

5⭐️ Georgia commit Jared Curtis makes it look simple 😮‍💨 The longer term Georgia Bulldog is the No. 1 QB within the class of 2026 😳🐶@Jaredcurtis37 I @NCSFB pic.twitter.com/jc6jGL7BYv

— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) October 2, 2024

In Athens, Curtis can play like Stetson Bennett did in his final two seasons in school. Like Bennett, Curtis can use his legs, acumen, resourcefulness and accuracy to guide this staff. Nevertheless, Curtis is greater than Bennett and has a stronger arm. — Luginbill

What does the staff’s QB roster seem like now?

Curtis joins a QB room with extremely rated prospects with restricted expertise on the sphere. Gunner Stockton was the fifth-rated dual-threat QB within the 2022 class and stuffed in admirably late final yr for an injured Carson Beck.

In all probability, Stockton would be the starter in Athens over the following two seasons. Nevertheless, Ryan Puglisi is ubertalented and also will push for the beginning job in 2025, and UGA signed two QBs within the 2025 class. The truth is that this determination, if Curtis indicators in December, will possible result in not less than a number of gamers coming into the switch portal. — Luginbill

What’s subsequent for Oregon’s and Georgia’s recruiting lessons?

Spherical 2 between the Bulldogs and Geese comes Might 13 when five-star offensive deal with Jackson Cantwell proclaims his dedication. No. 3 within the 2026 ESPN 300, Cantwell will go to each applications within the closing levels of his recruitment, and he actually will not be the final elite prospect the 2 powerhouses battle over, both.

Curtis’ dedication provides Good & Co. a cornerstone pledge within the 2026 cycle. With the No. 1 general passer in hand, Georgia will work to construct round him. Prime working again prospect Derrek Cooper (No. 7 within the 2026 ESPN) and four-star rusher Savion Hiter (No. 27) are a pair of precedence targets at one other place of want, as is in-state rusher Jae Lamar (No. 129). 5-star finish Kaiden Prothro (No. 19 general) may very well be the following piece in Georgia’s stellar tight finish pipeline, and five-star offensive deal with Immanuel Iheanacho (No. 12) shall be on campus for an official go to later this month.

On protection, the Bulldogs stay firmly within the combine for prime linebacker Tyler Atkinson (No. 13) and No. 1 athlete Brandon Arrington (No. 14), in addition to top-50 defensive backs Jireh Edwards (No. 30), Justice Fitzpatrick (No. 42) and Chauncey Kennon (No. 49).

Oregon whiffed on Curtis, however with a number of years of eligibility for third-year passers Dante Moore and Austin Novosad — paired with the arrival of four-star freshman Akili Smith Jr. — the Geese do not have to signal a quarterback within the 2026 class.

Oregon has been involved with five-star Houston quarterback pledge Keisean Henderson (No. 16 general) this spring. However the Geese’ prime non-Curtis quarterback goal is four-star passer Ryder Lyons (No. 50), who intends to take a mission journey following his senior yr and wouldn’t be part of Oregon till 2027. Given this system’s lack of a right away want on the place, Lyons — the nation’s No. 5 quarterback prospect — may very well be an particularly good slot in 2026.

Different prime targets for the Geese this cycle embody: Iheanacho, Atkinson, Arrington, defensive finish Richard Wesley (No. 18), security Jett Washington (No. 22) and tight finish Mark Bowman (No. 24). — Eli Lederman

How does this have an effect on the QB dominoes?

As famous, Oregon would not should signal a quarterback on this cycle, however with Curtis off the board, the Geese ought to nonetheless be a significant participant throughout the seven months between now and the early signing interval.

That might maintain important ramifications for Houston if the Geese up their efforts to flip Henderson. It might additionally affect USC and BYU if Oregon turns its full consideration to Lyons this summer time. The Geese might look towards different quarterbacks throughout the nation, too.

Alongside Oregon, Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, LSU, North Carolina, Ohio State, Ole Miss and South Carolina stand among the many prime applications nonetheless energetic within the quarterback market this spring.

Nevertheless, as of Might 5, solely 4 of the 18 quarterbacks ranked contained in the 2026 ESPN 300 stay uncommitted. With Curtis now dedicated, count on the recruitments of these remaining quarterbacks to choose up steam within the coming months.

Lyons is ready for June officers with BYU, USC and Oregon. Ole Miss stays the front-runner for Duckworth, who additionally holds heavy curiosity from Auburn, Florida State and South Carolina. Bowe Bentley (No. 264) will get to Georgia, LSU and Oklahoma later this spring, whereas former Purdue pledge Oscar Rios (No. 193) will take official journeys to Virginia Tech, Utah, Arizona and Colorado after an April go to to Oklahoma State. — Lederman