Curtis attended Many High School in Louisiana where he was a two-way player and was highly recruited, receiving offers to play college football as a freshman.[1] He totaled 92 tackles and four interceptions on defense as a sophomore and helped Many win the state championship while being named the Class 2A Most Outstanding Defensive Player, The Times Defensive Player of the Year, All-District, All-State, and the defensive most valuable player of the latter two.[2][3]
The following year, Curtis had 128 tackles, 18 tackles-for-loss, four interceptions and three forced fumbles and was named All-District and the defensive MVP, All-State and defensive MVP, the Louisiana Football Report Co-Defensive Player of the Year and MaxPreps Small School All-American.[2][4] As a senior, he helped Many win another state title while totaling 112 tackles, 16 tackles-for-loss, six sacks and three interceptions, additionally recording 1,115 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.[2] He was the first Many athlete to be named the LSWA Mr. Football and received many other additional honors, including: state championship MVP, MaxPreps Louisiana Player of the Year, All-District, district defensive MVP, first-team MaxPreps All-American and being a finalist for the Butkus Award for top linebacker in the U.S.[2][5][6] Curtis was ranked a top-100 recruit nationally and committed to the USC Trojans.[7][8]
Curtis became a starter immediately as a true freshman at USC in 2023, being the first to start at his position as a true freshman for the school since 2015, and the second since 1978.[9] He ultimately appeared in 12 games for the Trojans in the 2023 season and posted 40 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, two sacks and two fumble recoveries.[10] He entered the NCAA transfer portal after the season.[11][12] He was ranked the best linebacker in the transfer portal and ultimately committed to the Wisconsin Badgers.[13][14]
