Josh Heupel breaks down what he liked in quarterback Jake Merklinger
Tennessee landed their quarterback for the 2024 recruiting class — and for the second-straight year, Josh Heupel believes he’s landed a star in four-star recruit Jake Merklinger.
Heupel is ready to get the Georgia-native on campus and hit the ground running with his brand new quarterback group led by Merklinger and likely starter Nico Iamaleava. Merklinger could find himself No. 2 on the depth chart before the end of fall camp next season, and Heupel is set on prepping the Vols’ new standout QB.
“He’s gonna have to grow really quickly,” Heupel said on Wednesday during early national signing day. “He’ll get spoon fed as we start here in January and, and grow into spring football. Smart, competitive, he’s got good fundamentals. We’ve gotta refine some of those things. He’s already been working on those as he stepped foot on campus. But his football IQ, his ability to retain information, process out on the football field. he’s winner. He’s competitive. He’s got the right makeup.”
Merklinger was on multiple power five team’s radars as he headed into his junior season at Calvary Day (GA) High School in Savannah, Georgia. It was clear he was an elite quarterback talent after he threw for 1,987 yards with 32 touchdowns and just two interceptions as a junior in 2022, while also running for 283 yards and four more scores to earn Region 3-3A Player of the Year honors. His stellar season saw him be named the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year by the Savannah Quarterback Club.
In 2023, he was even more efficient. Completing 72.1% of his passes for 3,028 yards and 38 touchdowns against just two interceptions, his 13.4 yards per attempt and passer rating of 238.4 is among the best in the cycle.
He will step on campus next month rated as the No. 148 overall prospect and No. 10 QB in the 2024 class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. Heupel and the Vols had to fend off the likes of Michigan State, in-state power Georgia and Florida, among others to land the high-profile gunslinger.
Before Tennessee can get there, however, the No. 21 Vols will be taking on No. 17 Iowa in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET and will be aired live on ABC. Tennessee heads into the matchup as a 8.5-point betting favorite over the Big Ten runner ups. The over/under total is set at 36.5. All odds are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.