Vanderbilt's QB Competition Continues, But Jared Curtis Should Be the Starter

The highly touted freshman will have to prove he can handle the mental aspects of the job to earn the starting role.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:19pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a Vanderbilt football quarterback in motion, with sharp, overlapping planes of black, gold, and white conveying the dynamic energy and uncertainty of the team's quarterback competition.Vanderbilt's quarterback competition remains open, but the physical talents of freshman Jared Curtis make him the clear frontrunner if he can master the mental aspects of the position.Today in Nashville

Vanderbilt football's quarterback competition is still ongoing, with senior Blaze Berlowitz currently holding the post-spring lead. However, freshman Jared Curtis, a highly touted recruit from Nashville, has shown physical gifts that make him the clear frontrunner to be the Commodores' starting QB. Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea cautioned that Curtis still needs to demonstrate he can handle the mental aspects of the position, such as leadership, maturity, and field command, in order to officially win the job.

Why it matters

Vanderbilt fans are eager to see the talented Curtis take over the offense, as the program is unaccustomed to landing five-star quarterback recruits. However, Lea is taking a measured approach, wanting to ensure Curtis is fully prepared to handle the demands of being the Commodores' starting QB before handing him the reins.

The details

In Vanderbilt's spring game, the crowd cheered loudly when Curtis took the field, showcasing the excitement around the freshman. While Berlowitz took the first two possessions, it's clear from watching the two quarterbacks that Curtis' natural physical gifts are far beyond his competition. However, Lea stressed that Curtis still needs to improve his mental processing, pre-snap and post-snap operation, and overall field command in order to consistently 'own the operation' at the quarterback position.

  • Vanderbilt's spring game took place on April 18, 2026.
  • The Commodores' season opener is scheduled for September 5, 2026 against Austin Peay.

The players

Jared Curtis

A highly touted freshman quarterback recruit from Nashville who has shown exceptional physical talents, but still needs to develop the mental aspects of the position according to Vanderbilt's coaching staff.

Blaze Berlowitz

The senior quarterback who currently holds the post-spring lead in Vanderbilt's quarterback competition.

Clark Lea

The head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores, who is taking a measured approach to the quarterback competition and wants to ensure Curtis is fully prepared before handing him the starting job.

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What they’re saying

“From the physical-traits standpoint, he's there. From the mental-processing standpoint, that's where we've got to cover ground, and that's where we'll be focused.”

— Clark Lea, Head Coach, Vanderbilt Commodores

“He has to consistently own the operation, pre-snap, post-snap and be in process. And then it's that field command, he needs.”

— Clark Lea, Head Coach, Vanderbilt Commodores

What’s next

Vanderbilt will continue to evaluate Jared Curtis and the other quarterbacks throughout the summer and into fall camp to determine the starting QB for the season opener against Austin Peay on September 5.

The takeaway

While Jared Curtis is the clear physical talent at quarterback, Vanderbilt's coaching staff is taking a measured approach to ensure he is fully prepared to handle the mental demands of being the starting QB. The Commodores have a talented roster and high expectations, so they want to make sure their quarterback is ready to lead the team.