South Carolina Football: Elite quarterback recruit names finalists, Gamecocks make the cut

South Carolina football target Jared Curtis. Mandatory Credit: Syndication: The Tennessean
South Carolina football target Jared Curtis. Mandatory Credit: Syndication: The Tennessean

South Carolina football has some big-time quarterbacks committed to the program. Class of 2024 signal caller Dante Reno (Fiskdale, Massachusetts) is firm in his pledge to the Gamecocks, and class of 2026 dual-threat quarterback Landon Duckworth (Jackson, Alabama) recently made his own commitment to Shane Beamer’s South Carolina program.

More reinforcements could be on the way soon.

Earlier this month 4-star class of 2025 quarterback Ryan Montgomery (Findlay, Ohio) named the Gamecocks a finalist along with Georgia, Florida, Michigan, and Penn State.

Now, another elite quarterback prospect has let the world know that the Gamecocks are on his radar. Elite class of 2026 gunslinger Jared Curtis announced his first set of finalists, and the South Carolina football program made the list.

Alongside the Gamecocks in Curtis’ top-10 are the Georgia Bulldogs, Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida State Seminole, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Michigan Wolverines, Ohio State Buckeyes, Tennessee Volunteers, Texas A&M Aggies, and Ole Miss Rebels.

Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, Curtis is considered a 4-star quarterback in the class of 2026 according to both On3 and 247Sports. 247 even has him listed as the 2nd-best QB in the class.

He is a strong-armed passer who can put the ball almost anywhere he wants it despite being just 15 years old. As a runner, Curtis is far from a blazing athlete or a quick-twitch mover, but he is a good-enough athlete who is big and strong and has good balance that allows him to break through weak contact and arm tackles.

One of the most exciting things about Curtis’ game is that he has the rare ability as a high schooler to make off-platform throws. Whether he is moving with a designed rollout or escaping pressure to either side of the field, Curtis can still make strong throws to all parts of the field.

You can watch some of his film here.