Blaze Berlowitz started Vanderbilt football's Sept. 12 matchup with Delaware, a 35-26 win, but after just two drives, he gave way to five-star freshman Jared Curtis. According to coach Clark Lea, it was the plan all along to go to Curtis so quickly.
And when Curtis came in the game, he announced his arrival. While Berlowitz struggled, Curtis shined. He finished the game 14-for-22 passing for 210 yards and a touchdown, and also scored two rushing touchdowns.
Curtis wasn't perfect. He struggled with his operation on the first drive as the Commodores (2-0) committed a delay of game penalty and had an illegal man downfield, and Curtis himself committed an intentional grounding penalty. On a goal line play, he fumbled the snap but ran for a touchdown
anyway.
As the game went on, Curtis' operation improved and the offense found its rhythm.
"I don't know that much else could have gone wrong on his first time out," Lea said. "I know we had a dropped snap, delay of game, it just seemed like there was a lot that was disruptive, and yet he kept us organized enough to lead a touchdown drive. I think there's something to be said about that. I'll tell you what I was really impressed with was the way he settled into the game and it wasn't perfect but I'm happy for him."
Lea didn't commit to having a long-term starting quarterback named prior to the Commodores' next game against NC State on Sept. 19 (11:45 a.m. CT, SEC Network). But the competition is now trending in one direction.
While Berlowitz took the majority of the snaps in Vanderbilt's opener against Austin Peay, Curtis came out of the game just one time after he entered: Late in the second quarter, when Lea wanted Berlowitz's experience in a two-minute drive.
Berlowitz committed a fumble on a run play, leading to boos from the crowd. He got one more drive after that, resulting in a three-and-out and a blocked punt for a touchdown that briefly gave Delaware (1-1) the lead. But it was Curtis who played the entire second half.
Neither quarterback was made available to the media after the game.
"I feel like it was really big for Jared, just being a freshman and coming in, playing quarterback, that's really big for his confidence," tight end Jayvontay Conner said. "I was really happy for him."
Curtis, out of Nashville Christian School, completed passes of 31, 32 and 35 yards in the win. His downfield ability gave Vanderbilt a dimension it lacked with Berlowitz, who has looked uncomfortable throwing the ball in third-and-long situations.
And most importantly for coordinator Tim Beck's offense, Curtis didn't commit any turnovers. He was sacked three times and had a fumble (which he recovered himself), both things he will need to clean up, but he took care of the ball and after the first drive, he largely kept the offense ahead of the chains.
"He's a freshman and so just seeing his growth through the time that he's been here has been crazy and wild to me," Conner said. "It's a lot being put on his plate and I'm pretty sure he feels a little bit of pressure sometimes, but I really don't notice that a lot from him."
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How quarterback Jared Curtis made a case to be Vanderbilt football's starter
