Volunteer Country

Film Analysis: Jared Curtis Is The Next National Tennessee QB

2026 five-star quarterback Jared Curtis (Nashville, Tenn.) is high on the Tennessee Volunteers early in his recruitment.

Evan Crowell

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The Tennessee Volunteers will always be a name to watch for national quarterbacks under head coach Josh Heupel. They signed five-star Nico Iamaleava in 2023, landed four-star Jake Merklinger in 2024, and are heavily pursuing 2025 five-star George MacIntyre. Top signal callers recognize the opportunities the Vols' offense offers, and with the program on the rise, many are taking them very seriously.

The coaching staff has been fortunate that premium quarterback talent is beginning to flow through Nashville, Tennessee. One of the most talented names in that group is 2026 five-star quarterback Jared Curtis. Curtis is the No. 20 player in his class, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He narrowed his recruitment down to six schools earlier in the week: Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State, Tennessee, and Texas A&M will vie for his services moving forward.

Curtis totaled 38 touchdowns for Nashville Christian School this season, posting another impressive season. He's the top uncommitted quarterback in the 2026 class and has most major programs in college football giving chase. The Vols are making a push early, and we went to the tape to see why.

Arm Talent

The natural juice that Curtis has behind his football pops on tape. He can generate velocity from various platforms, creating torque with a violent hip rotation that always has the ball humming through the window. Curtis can also change velocity, routinely altering the amount of force behind his throws to ensure that his pass catchers are in the most opportune position to secure the catch. Whether it's cross-body, hurried, or a downfield missile, chances are that Curtis has put the throw on tape through his two seasons of high school football.

Improvisor

Curtis shines out-of-rhythm, when the play breaks down and he can create. You must play within a system and on time once you reach the college level, but the difference between a good and great quarterback at each level is how you respond when things go awry. There isn't a better off-schedule passer in the class for my money. He can deliver plays with his feet, extend plays outside the pocket and find a receiver downfield, and throw targets open in tight coverage. 

Stocky Frame

247Sports lists Curtis at 6-3 and 210 pounds after his sophomore season, which checks out when you watch the tape. He's amassed a lot of weight in his lower body, which is how he generates the torque behind his football without always fully engaging his base. Curtis endures hits when running the open field, not afraid of contact but welcoming it. In a world where quarterback frames continue to get discussed, Curtis already has checked the height and weight boxes as a high school sophomore, which is a big win for his development.

2026 5-star QB Jared Curtis during his sophomore season. (Photo by Alan Poizner of the Tennessean.com)

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Evan Crowell
EVAN CROWELL

Evan Crowell is the lead publisher of Sports Illustrated-FanNation's Volunteer Country, serving as a beat reporter covering football, basketball, and recruiting. He previously worked as the lead publisher of Sports Illustrated-FanNation's Gamecocks Digest.

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