Vanderbilt names Blaze Berlowitz starting QB, but star freshman Jared Curtis still has path to take over

Vanderbilt is taking the cautious route with the program's most highly touted recruit in history. Five-star freshman quarterback Jared Curtis will not start the Commodores' season opener against Austin Peay, with senior Blaze Berlowitz getting the nod at under center, according to ESPN. Curtis is expected to play, however, giving coach Clark Lea an opportunity to begin working his prized freshman into the offense without immediately placing the offense in his hands.

So, will Curtis eventually take over the starting job this season, and if so, when could we expect that to happen? If Vanderbilt follows a logical progression with Curtis, the Week 7 home game against Arkansas on Oct. 17 stands out as the most natural point for the Nashville native to take over the offense. There is little reason for Vanderbilt to rush Curtis into the starting job.

The Commodores open with three consecutive home games against Austin Peay, Delaware and NC State before beginning SEC play at Auburn on Sept. 26. That road trip kicks off the most difficult three-game stretch on the schedule, with a matchup at No. 3 Georgia followed by a home game against No. 9 Ole Miss. Throwing a true freshman into that stretch would be a significant ask, particularly when Vanderbilt has a senior quarterback in Berlowitz who, despite having zero career starts entering the season, can handle the early-season workload.

Instead, Lea can use the first six games to get a feel for Curtis' development, both in practice and in limited game action. Curtis can get his feet wet against Austin Peay and Delaware, with his workload potentially increasing as he gains comfort in the offense. If he handles those opportunities well, that could open the door for him to make his first start against NC State in Week 3.

If not, Vanderbilt can continue bringing him along behind Berlowitz before throwing him into SEC play. Either way, the first six weeks should give Lea enough information to determine whether Curtis is ready to take over by the time Vanderbilt returns home to face Arkansas. The decision to start Berlowitz should not be interpreted as Vanderbilt backing away from Curtis.

The quarterback competition was legitimate throughout fall camp. Berlowitz entered with experience after he appeared in six games as Diego Pavia's backup last season. Curtis brought the recruiting pedigree and physical upside of the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports.