Report: Details of 5-star QB Jared Curtis' NIL deal with Georgia revealed

Kirby Smart and Georgia got huge news on Monday, landing a (second) commitment from Nashville Christian (Tenn.) five-star quarterback Jared Curtis.

The No. 3 player in the latest On300 rankings, Curtis was a one-time UGA pledge from March to October 2024 before backing off his commitment. At the time, he wanted a chance to visit more schools and evaluate his options. The Bulldogs remained in the mix, as did Oregon, Alabama, South Carolina, Ohio State and others.

Ultimately though, it came down to the Ducks and Bulldogs, with him choosing UGA a second time. And while his NIL deal was undoubtedly a factor in the decision-making process, it doesn’t appear to have been a major one. According to Brooks Austin, director of recruiting for the On SI network, Curtis actually took less money with UGA than he would’ve gotten with the Ducks.

“He took a paycut coming to Georgia compared to what he was going to get at Oregon,” Austin said. “I don’t know the number there, but I’ve been told it’s considerably higher — noticeably higher was the wordage I believe.”

According to Austin, Curtis will make between $600,000-800,000 as a freshman in 2026, then will earn between $1.2-1.4 million in his second year with the program in 2027.

“All of Georgia’s NIL contracts going forward by the way, are back-loaded and not front-loaded,” Austin said, referring to other programs who promise recruiting money upfront to get them to sign.

Year 3 of contract will be renegotiated

After Curtis’ second season, the two sides will renegotiate depending on his performance and whether he has earned the starting job for the Bulldogs. What he’ll make then will depend on the market for his services. Multiple starting quarterbacks in 2025 will make over $3 million, with Duke’s Darian Mensah and Miami’s Carson Beck reportedly earning over $4 million.

Curtis would very much be in line for that kind of money if he lives up his potential as the country’s No. 1 quarterback recruit in his class.

As a junior, Curtis completed over 70 percent of his passes for 2,830 yards and 40 touchdowns to just three interceptions. He added another 637 yards rushing and 18 more scores.

In three years as a starter, he has amassed 7,665 passing yards and 92 touchdown passes, along with 1,663 yards and 38 rushing touchdowns On3 compares Curtis to Matthew Stafford, the last top-ranked quarterback recruit to sign with UGA back in 2006.

“Jared Curtis’ top shelf arm talent and ability to make plays outside of structure remind us of Matthew Stafford at the same stage,” writes Charles Power. “Curtis has a bigger frame than Stafford, while Stafford was more proven against top competition playing at a high level of Texas high school football.”

While he will have high expectations placed on his shoulders as soon as he hits campus, Curtis is ready to return the Bulldogs to the top of college football.

“I’m ready to work,” Curtis told On3’s Steve Wiltfong. “I have a lot to learn. I want to go up there and hopefully make an impact pretty early, but I’m going to work 100 percent.”