Auburn assistant coach visits 2026 5-star QB Jared Curtis

The nation’s top quarterback in the 2026 class is receiving interest from top schools all across the country. On Wednesday, that interest manifested in the first in-home visit from a coach for Nashville Christian five-star quarterback Jared Curtis.

Auburn quarterbacks coach Kent Austin visited Curtis in Nashville this week as the Tigers push to add to a stacked QB room.

First in home visit!! Thank you Coach Austin!! pic.twitter.com/K54TVXLmix

— Jared Curtis 2026 QB (@Jaredcurtis37) January 9, 2025

Curtis previously visited Auburn during the first weekend in November when the Tigers hosted Vanderbilt.

“I liked it a lot,” Curtis told Auburn Live following the visit. “It was my first time and they showed what they have to offer. I like it a lot and I feel like they are going to be better the next couple of years.”

He had the opportunity to speak with Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze.

“I feel like, talking to Coach Freeze, he’s telling me they are going to be really good in the next couple of years,” Curtis said. “They have a really heavy freshman class in right now and they have a top-10 2025 class. Seeing what they do over the next couple of years will be exciting.”

The latest from On3’s Steve Wiltfong on the schools pursuing Jared Curtis

Previously committed to Georgia, Curtis decommitted from the Bulldogs in October. Auburn, Alabama, Ole Miss, Oregon, Ohio State, South Carolina, USC and Georgia are all schools that have received varying levels of interest from Curtis.

The 6-foot-3.5, 225-pound Curtis is the nation’s No. 4 overall prospect in the 2026 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is the No. 1 QB in the class and the top-ranked recruit from the state of Tennessee.

On3 is the highest on Curtis of the four major recruiting services. He ranks No. 3 overall in the latest update of the 2026 On300.

Curtis named Gatorade Tennessee Football Player of the Year

Following the 2024 high school football season, Curtis was named Tennessee Football Player of the Year by Gatorade.

The junior gunslinger led the Eagles to a 13-1 record and a state title. Entering the final game of his season, Curtis had thrown for 2,672 yards and 38 touchdowns while also rushing for 577 yards and an additional 14 scores.

“Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The award distinguishes Curtis as Tennessee’s best high school football player, and he joins an impressive group of alumni that spans CEOs, coaches and star athletes such as Emmitt Smith (1986-87, Escambia High School, Fl.), Peyton Manning (1993-94, Isidore Newman School, La.) and DJ Lagway (2023-24, Willis High School, Texas),” Gatorade wrote of Curtis in a press release.