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Once considered the SEC’s premier cellar-dweller, Vanderbilt has made some significant strides over the past few years under head coach Clark Lea. Whether it was knocking off a No. 1-ranked Alabama at home in 2024, nearly challenging for a College Football Playoff last season, or sending star quarterback Diego Pavia to New York City for the 2025 Heisman Trophy ceremony, the Commodores have come a long way in a short period of time.
But, perhaps nothing solidified Vanderbilt’s ascension within the SEC football hierarchy as much as signing Five-Star Plus+ quarterback Jared Curtis, the No. 2-ranked quarterback in the 2026 recruiting cycle according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. And what’s more, Lea and the ‘Dores flipped Curtis on National Signing Day following a months-long commitment to SEC power Georgia.
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Now, as Vanderbilt prepares to open preseason camp next month in Nashville, Curtis is facing a competitive battle with senior Blaze Berlowitz, last year’s backup behind Pavia who also followed third-year Commodores offensive coordinator Tim Beck from New Mexico State in 2023. Lea actually cited that competition as another sign of Vanderbilt’s climb as a program within the SEC.
“What a cool testament to the program that you’re able to sign the No. 1 quarterback in the country and he comes without any expectations or promises, other than the opportunity to compete,” Lea said Tuesday during an appearance at the SEC Network set during Day 2 of the2026 SEC Football Kickoff Media Days in Tampa. “So we’re glad to welcome him in. But beyond that, you’ve got a room of players that chose to stay and engage in the same competition.
“I think it’s a really good statement of where the program is, because what team doesn’t benefit from that position-by-position competition? It’s how you grow as people honestly,” Lea added. “So we have to turn our attention as we enter training camp into who will be the guy to take the snaps, that’s a really important decision.”
Whether or not Curtis ultimately gets that call, Lea made it clear he anticipates the entire Vanderbilt team to be better and compliment the quarterback position moreso than it did when Pavia averaged an SEC-leading 338.5 yards per game last season. Due in large part to Pavia’s natural playmaking ability, Vanderbilt had the SEC’s second-best scoring offense averaging 38.5 points per game in 2025.
“Part of that is also in what ways are we strengthening as a team that support that (quarterback), so we take some pressure off what that role has been for our team, particularly last year. … Now, all of a sudden, the quarterback is really about facilitating performance within the other ten players and playing within himself.”
“I think we’ve grown, I think the offense has evolved, I think the person taking the snaps is going to fit within that, and then Tim will tweak it to make sure their strengths are optimized.”
