CHATTANOOGA — The night after the Vanderbilt football team played Missouri State, comedian Theo Von spoke with Jared Curtis.
Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia was also in the circle.
It was a full-court press.
advertise
“They just told me, everyone goes through Nashville. This is the place,” Curtis said after Nashville Christian’s 59-7 win over USJ on Dec. 2 in the TSSAA Football DII-A state championship game. “That’s their message, Vanderbilt is building something special.”
Von, Pavia and Nashville native comedian Nate Bargatze were all part of Vanderbilt’s fierce and ultimately successful effort to get Curtis, a first-team All-American in the Class of 2026, to transfer from Georgia and sign with Vandy on Dec. 3.
More: How Jared Curtis turned an old jacket into a Vanderbilt football team’s lucky charm
More: Vanderbilt commit Omari Sanders weighs in on Jared Curtis, Owen Cabell flips
advertise
Bagez called Curtis himself.
“He just said the same thing Theo said, that Vanderbilt is a special environment,” Curtis said. “It was an interesting conversation.”
Curtis, who completed 14 of 19 passes for 205 yards and five touchdowns in his final high school game, can finally put the frenzy of recruiting behind him and look forward to college. Curtis will attend Vanderbilt University in January.
Vanderbilt and Clark Lee reached out to Curtis in late October. Curtis said the past month and a half has been such a blur that he can’t even remember the first time Vanderbilt reached out during the process.
But Pavia put in a lot of work.
advertise
“Me and Diego talk a lot on the phone,” Curtis said. “He was really supportive and helpful.”
Vanderbilt actively sells its products on site, Curtis said. The Commodores are 10-2 and lobbying for a College Football Playoff berth. A source told The Tennessean that the administration’s extension of Lee’s contract would also be “huge.”
Leah convinced Curtis that Vanderbilt’s season was no fluke.
“I think Coach Lee has stepped in and obviously changed the program,” Curtis said. “I don’t think they’re a doormat in the SEC anymore. They’re playing well in every game they play. They’re proving it.”
advertise
Curtis figured he had a chance to play immediately. Junior Blaise Belowitz will be the Commodores’ most experienced returning quarterback.
“This job (commitment) is not for me,” Curtis said. “I just have to go in and compete. Blaydes is a great quarterback and I’m excited to compete against him. We’ll see how it goes.”
Curtis sheds the seriousness of the Vanderbilt flip. He was the highest-rated signee in program history, and his recruitment became a national story.
“I don’t consider myself a big shot,” Curtis said. “I play football, that’s my job.”
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Taylor? Contact him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
advertise
He also writes for The Bootleg, Tennessee’s high school sports newsletter. Subscribe to Pirates here.
This article originally appeared in The Nashville Tennessean: How Vanderbilt football sealed a deal for top pick Jared Curtis
