Have you ever heard of the Paradox of Choice? It’s a scenario where too many options make decision-making harder. Every choice comes with the nagging feeling of what you left behind. It’s a vicious cycle and something 5-star players in college football regularly go through. And if you’re a generational talent? Let’s just say you should brace for a mind-numbing dilemma lasting months, even years. Jared Curtis, the 5-star QB prospect of the 2026 class, went through a similar ordeal. His dad admitted that the QB was “torn real bad” amongst the teams he wanted to choose. But to be honest, it was more complex than that. But now? Well, he’s turning heads with his latest antics.
It all started back in his freshman year. Curtis rose through the ranks in the recruiting board after he passed for 7 touchdowns and led his Nashville Christian High School to a 10-3 record. The offers started coming in from then on, including the one from Kirby Smart’s Georgia. The QB got more than 40 offers on the table, including virtually every ‘power’ team in CFB. But at last, on March 23rd last year, Curtis finally chose Georgia. Kirby Smart gained a 5-star QB after Dylan Raiola’s decommitment in 2024. But for Curtis, the decision didn’t come with peace of mind. Why, you ask? Well, the infamous Paradox of Choice hit full throttle.
“I let them know it just doesn’t seem right or fair to stay committed while checking out other programs. I want people to know where I stand, and I’ve learned that making big decisions takes time.” With this statement, Curtis decommitted from Georgia and then came programs like Oregon, Alabama, and Bill Belichick’s UNC. The QB even visited programs like Alabama, Oregon, South Carolina, and Ohio State in January this year. But guess what? All this time, Mike Bobo and Kirby Smart didn’t stop recruiting him. And now, after a whole year of waiting, the QB has finally back to where he started, Georgia. Moreover, he is also turning heads with his latest act just days after committing.
In his latest video, posted by ‘@maddensanmiguel’ on Instagram, Curtis is seen throwing passes to Baby Gronk. Yes, you read right! It’s Baby Gronk! Well, he’s not the son of the NFL legend who is probably the greatest TE in football, Rob Gronkowski. He’s actually a 12-year-old kid from Frisco, Texas, but has amassed a following of more than 420k on YouTube and 650k on Instagram. And he’s quite a celebrity at this younger age, too. He’s been profiled by the New York Times, and his hilarious memes can also be found in NFL circles on the internet. But why all the hype?
Well, Baby Gronk, like his namesake, plays as a tight end and has the athleticism and strength of Rob Gronkowski for his age. The 12-year-old internet sensation has already shared moments with celebrities like Shaquille O’Neal and Mark Wahlberg a few times. As for the footballing prowess? Well, he’s just 12 years old, so nothing much can be said about his ‘catch radius’ or terms like that. But yes, his size for his age is incredible. However, Jared’s involvement with Baby Gronk isn’t going well with the fans.
Fans call a foul on the play of Jared Curtis’ Baby Gronk collab.
While many offered support to the passing and the antics displayed by Jared as he throws balls to Baby Gronk, not everyone was impressed. Many users pointed to the futility of the act, as Baby Gronk wasn’t developed enough to provide enough quality in the receptions. One user wrote, “Now let’s put a bunch of 5-star and 4-star defensive players”. While another was more brutal with his take and said, “Weak weak weak that his slowing him down creating drag”.
Curtis’ talent isn’t in question. After all, the guy has racked up 7,637 passing yards and 130 TDs in his high school career. Moreover, with the signings of receivers like 5-star Isaiah Gibson and Talyn Taylor, the sky is the limit for Curtis. Still, users didn’t stop lambasting the QB prospect with their opinions.
“Is this a joke?” said one user while another pointed out the wrong passing mechanics for Curtis. “He barely throwing the ball”. To be fair, it’s apparent that Curtis isn’t even serious; the ‘practice session’ is also in a baseball cage, and the whole act looks like a PR boost event. So it’s obvious you won’t be getting those on-field passes in a 10 by 10 cage meant for batting practice, right? And one user pointed it out too, albeit with a harsh tone.
“He’s throwing Little League coach throws,” the user said as Curtis is visibly looking to throw just for formality. Well, formality or not, the recent act by Curtis has seen many fans rattled as they have several hot takes on the issue. But, when it comes to real on-field throws, Curtis has all the tools. And now we hope the guy becomes the real deal in the UGA offense.
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