
As the calendar slides toward the Dec. 3–5 early signing period, recruiting season is entering its most frantic stretch — and ESPN’s recruiting roundup shows plenty of immediate storylines that could change final class maps.
“Thirty-two days remain before the Dec. 3-5 early signing period,” ESPN reports, and programs such as Auburn, Ohio State and Tennessee will host key visitors over the next four weeks.
Vanderbilt’s recent push — including multiple visits last week — put the Commodores squarely in the headlines as they try to persuade Nashville native Jared Curtis to stay home rather than sign with Georgia.
ESPN notes Vanderbilt “pulled out all the stops for No. 2 overall quarterback Curtis on a pair of trips to campus last week,” and that the Commodores are expected to “remain in daily contact” as the early signing period approaches.
Yet sources still see Curtis Georgia pledge as the likelier outcome for now: “It would be pretty shocking to me if he landed anywhere else,” one program source told ESPN.
That tension — hometown pull vs. a blue-blood program — is exactly the kind of flip drama that can decide not only where a single five-star lands but also how a class finishes in the national rankings.
Curtis, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound passer from Nashville Christian School, committed to Georgia in May after briefly reopening his recruitment last fall.
The Bulldogs track record of developing quarterbacks and competing for championships made them the favorite throughout the process.
Still, Vanderbilt has crafted a compelling counterargument — one that appeals to both heart and opportunity.
The Commodores sales pitch centers on staying close to home, playing in front of family, and immediately competing for the starting job once current starter Diego Pavia graduates.
Vanderbilt’s strong 7-1 season and improved national reputation under its current staff have added credibility to the pitch.
The school has emphasized its upward trajectory and the chance for Curtis to be the face of a new era in Commodore football — a hometown five-star leading Vanderbilt back into national relevance.
“They’re going to keep working on him all the way to signing day,” one source familiar with Vanderbilt’s efforts told ESPN. “Why wouldn’t they?” ESPN
While Vanderbilt’s pursuit has drawn headlines, sources around Georgia remain confident. Curtis reaffirmed his commitment to the Bulldogs earlier this year after briefly backing off last fall.
According to ESPN, Curtis “sees his future at Georgia, playing for a program he feels presents the best opportunity for personal development and national championship contention.”
Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo personally attended Curtis recent six-touchdown performance — a reminder of how invested the Bulldogs are in keeping him on board.
Curtis remains expected to sign with Georgia in December and enroll early in Athens in 2026, barring a dramatic late shift.
Between official visits, coaching changes and home-city pulls, the next 30 days will likely produce the most consequential flips and confirmations of the 2026 cycle.
Programs that can move fast and provide clarity to recruits — particularly at QB and defensive line — stand to vault in December.
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