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Kirby Smart Unfazed by Comedian’s Recruiting Pitch for Top QB Prospect Jared Curtis
Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart dismissed comedian Nate Bargatze’s public recruiting efforts for five-star quarterback Jared Curtis during Vanderbilt’s recent home game. Curtis, the nation’s top-ranked quarterback prospect for 2026, was in attendance at his hometown Nashville school when Bargatze repeatedly mentioned him on ESPN’s “College GameDay.”
“I don’t look much into that kind of stuff,” Smart said when asked about Bargatze’s comments during Monday’s press conference. “We communicate with our kids and trust they can see through propaganda. They don’t get caught up in gimmicks. We sell our program for what it is, not what others say about it.”
The high-profile recruitment of Curtis has become one of the most watched storylines in college football. The Nashville Christian School standout is currently committed to Georgia but continues to explore options, with Oregon emerging as the Bulldogs’ primary competition. According to both the 247Sports Composite and On3 Industry Rankings, Curtis holds the coveted No. 1 quarterback position nationally for the 2026 recruiting class.
Vanderbilt’s surprising season has brought additional attention to Curtis’s hometown visit. The Commodores have made headlines after defeating then-No. 1 Missouri, improving to 7-3 on the season and earning a No. 9 ranking in the AP poll – their highest position in decades. This success has energized the Nashville fanbase and created a compelling storyline around Curtis’s recruitment.
Curtis downplayed the significance of his Vanderbilt visit, though he shared his experience with fans on Instagram alongside comedian Theo Von. “It was great to visit my hometown and see lots of coaches and teammates,” Curtis told DawgNation’s Peter Webb. “Nashville is a neat city, and I was pumped to attend the game and cheer for the right team.”
Georgia’s coaching staff remains confident in their position with the five-star prospect. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo expressed enthusiasm about Curtis’s potential in Athens.
“We’re very thrilled to have such a highly-rated player be so excited about our program,” Bobo said. “Jared is an incredible talent, and we’re fortunate to get the chance to be his coaching staff as an early enrollee.”
Curtis attended his Nashville Christian School’s game on Friday before making the trip to Vanderbilt on Saturday. He has been a regular presence in Athens this season, having visited for multiple home games and is expected to return for Georgia’s November 15 matchup against Texas.
The recruitment battle for Curtis represents a significant priority for Georgia’s 2026 class, where he currently stands as their highest-rated commitment. The Bulldogs have built a powerhouse program under Smart’s leadership, with consecutive national championships in 2021 and 2022, making them an attractive destination for elite quarterback talent.
Despite Vanderbilt’s efforts to flip the hometown star, Georgia maintains the advantage of having secured Curtis’s early commitment. NCAA rules prevent him from signing a binding National Letter of Intent until December 2025, giving other programs – including his hometown Commodores – continued opportunity to change his mind before his decision becomes official.
For Smart and his staff, maintaining relationships rather than responding to public recruiting stunts remains the priority as they work to keep the future of their quarterback position secure in the increasingly competitive college football landscape.
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7 Comments
Kirby Smart’s take on not getting caught up in ‘propaganda’ and ‘gimmicks’ when recruiting top talent is refreshing. Keeping the focus on authentically selling the program’s strengths is the right call in such a high-profile recruitment like Jared Curtis’.
Kirby Smart’s approach of communicating directly with recruits and letting them see through ‘propaganda’ seems wise. Recruiting top talent is so competitive these days, it’s important for programs to focus on their unique selling points rather than getting drawn into media hype.
Recruiting high-profile quarterbacks like Jared Curtis is always a major storyline in college football. It’s smart for Georgia to take the high road and focus on selling their program’s strengths rather than getting dragged into media sideshows. Curious to see where Curtis ultimately ends up.
Smart’s comments about not getting caught up in ‘gimmicks’ when recruiting top talent like Curtis are refreshing. It’s all about selling the program’s real strengths and letting recruits see through any ‘propaganda.’ Definitely an intriguing recruitment to follow.
It’s smart for Kirby Smart to dismiss the ‘propaganda’ and focus on directly communicating Georgia’s selling points to top recruits like Jared Curtis. Avoiding media gimmicks and letting the program speak for itself is likely the best approach in such a competitive landscape.
Kirby Smart taking the pragmatic approach of communicating directly with recruits and not getting drawn into media hype is the right call. Recruiting top talent is so competitive, programs need to focus on their unique selling points rather than gimmicks. Curious to see how the Curtis saga unfolds.
It’s interesting to see coaches dismiss media efforts to influence top recruits. Smart seems focused on selling Georgia’s program on its own merits rather than getting caught up in gimmicks. Curious to see how the Curtis recruitment plays out between Georgia and Oregon.