Nation’s No. 1 QB expected to make roughly $2 million as true freshman
Story by Antonio G Losada• 23h•
2 min read
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The economics of elite high school recruiting continue to escalate in the NIL era, and the latest example centers on five-star quarterback and Vanderbilt Commodores commit Jared Curtis.
According to On3's Pete Nakos, reporting on the top-paid recruits from the 2026 high school class, Curtis is expected to earn roughly $2 million during his first year in college.
That figure, higher than a good percentage of salaries earned by actual professional players part of NFL rosters, reflects the professionalization of high school recruiting and college sports.
Curtis, the No. 1 quarterback in the 2026 Rivals Rankings, flipped his commitment from the Georgia Bulldogs to Vanderbilt, delivering the Commodores the highest-ranked signee in program history.
Nashville Christian quarterback Jared Curtis. © Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Nakos' report features multiple Power Four general managers identifying Curtis as one of the top-paid players in the entire 2026 class.
“It’s either (five-star offensive tackle Jackson) Cantwell or Jared Curtis in terms of cash being paid in Year 1,” a Big Ten general manager told On3.
Another ACC staffer echoed the sentiment, noting that Curtis’ deal places him at the very top of the freshman NIL market. “It’s Jackson Cantwell, he’s this year’s David Sanders,” that person said.
After initially committing to Georgia, reopening his process, and recommitting to the Bulldogs, the Nashville native ultimately chose Vanderbilt late in the cycle.
Curtis cited the opportunity to stay home, play in front of family, and help build something locally under head coach Clark Lea at Vanderbilt.
"Being here in Nashville and seeing what Vandy has been doing this season has been amazing and over the past few weeks, I felt more and more that I wanna be a part of that, to be close to home, to play in front of family and friends and to be what I love to be, an underdog," Curtis wrote in a statement. "I am excited to be a [Commodore] and excited to be part of building something here at home with Coach [Clark] Lea."
Curtis will arrive at Vanderbilt as the program’s first five-star recruit and a likely Day 1 starter candidate once he enrolls.
The Commodores will open their season on Sept. 5 against Austin Peay.
