South Carolina Gamecocks miss out on five-star QB Jared Curtis in 2026 recruiting race

Five-star quarterback Jared Curtis has narrowed his choices to Georgia and Oregon, leaving South Carolina out of contention. While the Gamecocks miss out on the No. 1 QB in the 2026 class, their recruiting class remains strong.
Nashville Christian's Jared Curtis (2), Clay Klotz (58), and Terry Ward (10) celebrate after Curtis' touchdown against Columbia Academy in the TSSAA Division II-A Bluecross Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Nashville Christian's Jared Curtis (2), Clay Klotz (58), and Terry Ward (10) celebrate after Curtis' touchdown against Columbia Academy in the TSSAA Division II-A Bluecross Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, in Chattanooga, Tenn. | Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The 2026 recruiting race took a major turn on Saturday as five-star quarterback Jared Curtis announced his final two schools—Georgia and Oregon—effectively ruling out South Carolina.

Curtis confirmed he will only take official visits to Georgia and Oregon, signaling that South Carolina is no longer in serious contention. The highly touted recruit, rated as the No. 1 quarterback in the country and the No. 2 overall player in the class, was previously expected to visit Columbia in late June.

Although missing out on Curtis is a setback, the Gamecocks’ 2026 class remains strong, with five committed players. The group is headlined by four-star safety J'Zavien Currence, who has been committed to South Carolina since October 2024. There is still plenty of time for Shane Beamer and his staff to build another impressive recruiting class before signing day.

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