It’s weird how Jared Curtis tipped his cap to Oregon—then went straight to Georgia’s arms. “I think they showcased their talents this year and showed teams what they can be. They just go out and fight,” he said, nodding to how Dan Lanning and Will Stein’s development of Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel impressed many. Oregon seems like a perfect fit for Curtis, especially given his praise of their quarterback track record. But here’s the kicker: Georgia was never off the board. He committed in March, reopened things in October, and then, after all the hustle of visits, he spun the wheel right back to Athens. Whether it’s comfort or fate, Curtis is back in red and black, and this time, is it final?
Well, Jared Curtis is the first top-class QB in the country to commit to Georgia since Matthew Stafford back in 2006. And he becomes the first QB commitment for Georgia’s 2026 class. But what makes him a perfect fit for the team? He is a Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr.Football in Tennessee after a stellar junior year. Not just that this 6’4 freak threw 40 TDs and added 18 on the ground. And getting a player of Jared’s caliber is a big win for the team. Even Curtis seems pretty excited to join them back, as he said, “Let’s go! Go Dawgs!!!”
But what about his inclination towards Dan Lanning’s program? Well, it looks like there’s another layer to the reason behind his commitment to Georgia. And Rusty Mansell laid it out clearly on That SEC Football Podcast. “I think the biggest thing that hurts Oregon is location… Like, people I know that go—and Dan Lanning is a hell of a dude. Now, I know Dan as a freaking great dude. And they recruited this kid hard. Like, they were all in on Jared Curtis. They have the Nike brand behind them. I don’t care what amount of money they do—everybody says their facilities are crazy,” Mansell said.
That’s a straight-up fact. This man took Oregon’s game to another level of heights. Since the moment he joined the team, they haven’t seen a season with less than 9 wins, and last year he led the Ducks to a perfect 12-0 regular season. They had family ties, the program had a lot to offer with Phil Knight in the mix. But the one that didn’t work well on Jared Curtis’ case is the distance. “If you think about Jared Curtis and his family, and you think about his mom and dad, who are firmly entrenched here, and, you know, you got a grandchild—the first grandchild—and you think about six Fridays every football season, you gotta jump on a plane from Nashville, you gotta fly to Portland, and then you gotta car what—hour and a half, two hours—to Eugene, you know? Mansell said.
“And you think about doing that six, seven times a year, and then three or four times a year to even go see your kid? There’s a lot with that logistics part.” So that’s what made the difference. As it’s important to understand that it’s not always about the program or their status that makes the difference, sometimes it’s the player’s limitations too. And it’s not like Georgia wasn’t a comfortable option for Jared Curtis and his family. His father was pretty impressed by the entire team. “We’ve been to Georgia so many times,” his father told ESPN. “We’ve got great relationships with those coaches, We just know them all so well. They’re a bunch of great people, and we have a lot of comfort there.”
So, with this, Kirby Smart‘s Georgia got lucky as he landed a highly touted quarterback: a big, strong passer with exceptional accuracy and mobility. In his first two high school seasons, Curtis amassed 5,115 passing yards and 52 touchdowns, with 17 interceptions. Last fall, his junior year, he threw for another 2,830 yards and 40 touchdowns, only throwing three interceptions en route to leading Nashville Christian to the Tennessee Division II-A state title. His high school career also included 1,661 rushing yards and 38 rushing touchdowns, showcasing his dual-threat abilities and explosive playmaking.
But it’s not the end of the world for Dan Lanning as there’s another top prospect eyeing straight at their program.
Dan Lanning’s program gets a major update on Immanuel Iheanacho
Oregon Ducks football is experiencing a surge in recruiting success, particularly for the 2026 class. While they didn’t get 5-star QB Jared Curtis, their acquisition of 5-star offensive tackle Immanuel Iheanacho is a significant boost. The high school football star will announce his college commitment on August 5, after visiting Oregon, Penn State, LSU, and Auburn.
“Right now I would say it’s (Oregon), LSU, Penn State, and Auburn, probably in that order. I feel like the OVs can be the changing difference.” Iheanacho said, reflecting on his shift in priorities. Although he initially favored the University of Maryland because that’s his home, now Oregon appears to be making a strong recruitment effort. On top of that, he also ruled out Alabama from his list. The Ducks will host him for a crucial final visit from June 20-22, a pivotal moment in his recruitment.
Look, Dan Lanning’s program has already been a top priority for Immanuel Iheancho since the start, and now his priority list just adds up to it. “Oregon now is back to being my No. 1, and LSU is No. 2. I initially intended on committing in August. I think I can probably see myself committing in the next month or month-and-a-half,” Iheanacho said back in April. “I want to take a couple of official visits before I do that. I have an opportunity to commit really early, and I am weighing my options.”
The program is already running thin in terms of its offensive depth. As for now, Dan Lanning’s program doesn’t have an OT, and if Immanuel Iheancho enters the team, it will just boost their 2026 class recruitment, which currently just has 8 commits.
Immanuel is a phenomenal player, a complete package. In 2024, he earned Junior All-American honors from MaxPreps, showcasing his incredible skill. He didn’t allow a single sack all season, a key factor in Georgetown Prep winning its fifth Interstate Athletic Conference title in six years. In 2023, he was instrumental in their 8-2 record, primarily at left tackle but also seeing time on the right. This earned him first-team all-league honors. He even contributed on defense, highlighting his versatility and athleticism.
Oregon has had their eyes on Iheanacho for a while, and Dan Lanning is not new to competing for top talent. Now, apart from Immanuel, Oregon is also eyeing No. 1 OT Jackson Cantwell, who’s set to announce his commitment next week between Oregon, Georgia, Miami, and Ohio State. The stakes are pretty high for both the OTs. Immanuel would be a great addition to Lanning’s Oregon team, and his recruitment is highly anticipated. The competition is fierce, but Oregon looks like a strong contender.
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