Kirby Smart previews Georgia vs. Vanderbilt and QB Jared Curtis

ATHENS — Jared Curtis was once supposed to become Georgia’s quarterback.

On Saturday, he will try to beat the Bulldogs.

Curtis, a five-star prospect from Nashville, was committed to Georgia deep into his high school recruitment before reversing course and signing with Vanderbilt. Now a freshman, he will start against the program he once planned to join.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart left the recruiting history in the past on Monday. His concern is the player Curtis has already become.

“He has tremendous talent and is way better athletically than people give him credit for,” Smart said. “I don’t know if one person has tackled him yet. He’s strong, he’s quick, he’s powerful, and he’s got great arm talent. Everything that everybody thought has been true.”

That combination of mobility and arm strength makes Curtis especially dangerous. Georgia must keep him contained without compromising its coverage downfield, and Smart said the assignment begins with something far less complicated: getting him on the ground.

“It’s always important that you tackle well,” Smart said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a running back, a receiver, a tight end or a quarterback.”

Smart has little use for labeling quarterbacks as mobile anymore. In today’s game, he considers mobility part of the position.

“We’re going to play mobile quarterbacks the entire year,” he said. “Tell me somebody that’s not mobile that plays quarterback. I don’t know if there is one.”

Curtis’ return to Georgia’s schedule also provided an unmistakable reminder of how uncertain recruiting commitments have become. Asked generally about prospects committing early, Smart offered an answer that fits the Curtis story particularly well.

“No one’s committed until they’re signed,” Smart said. “At the end of the day, they’re not bound until they sign something or they enroll. … They’re not yours. They have an option to go to other places. You also have an option to not keep them.”

Curtis chose Vanderbilt, and coach Clark Lea has built a program capable of giving Georgia problems well beyond the quarterback position.

Smart described the Commodores as physical, disciplined and constructed much like Georgia under a defensive-minded head coach. He also suggested Vanderbilt deserved stronger consideration for the College Football Playoff last season.

“They’ve got a great program, a great team,” Smart said. “They arguably should have made the playoffs last year with the record they had and the teams they beat.”

Vanderbilt’s defense has Smart’s attention as well. The Commodores combine athleticism with the sound fundamentals expected from a Lea-coached team.

“They’ve got twitchy guys,” Smart said. “They’re sound fundamentally, play really hard, and he’s got a defensive staff, but he’s also the head coach. He’s a defensive guy.”

Georgia’s offense will counter with the balance it showed against Oklahoma. Smart liked the physical play of the offensive line and the way the Bulldogs mixed the running game with play-action passes, pocket movement and traditional drop-back throws.

The Bulldogs have also been better at protecting the football and creating takeaways.

“Our turnover ratio has been better,” Smart said. “It’s probably the biggest difference. We’ve taken more than we’ve given.”

That margin could prove crucial against Vanderbilt and its talented freshman quarterback.

Curtis never made it to Georgia’s locker room. On Saturday, the Bulldogs will be responsible for making sure he does not take over their field.