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Jake Merklinger was already known as one of the top high school quarterbacks in Georgia heading into his junior year of high school. But Merklinger elevated his game in 2022 to become one of the country’s elite quarterback prospects. Merklinger was named the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year by the Savannah Quarterback Club. He threw for 1,987 yards with 32 touchdowns and just two interceptions and ran for 283 yards and four more scores to earn Region 3-3A Player of the Year honors. “He shows more and more maturity each week, stepping up in the pocket and holding himself in the pocket and rescanning the field,” Calvary Day School coach Mark Stroud said. “Once that first thing breaks down, he does really do a really good job of figuring out what’s next. He's improved every year and proven himself – and I think he's going to get better and better. He has all the physical skills, he's a tremendous competitor and leader – he’s got all the intangibles the best programs are looking for.” Merklinger’s older brother, Ryan, played football at Valparaiso.

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Tennessee Volunteers

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For most college football programs across the country, this is the final weekend of fall training camp. Teams are making their last evaluations

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Tennessee Volunteers Football

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Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel had to pivot quickly this offseason at the quarterback position with the transfer of Nico Iamaleava. That

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Following a tumultuous offseason that saw returning starting QB Nico Iamaleava transfer to UCLA after a dispute over NIL compensation, Tennessee has

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(Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel during a college football game between Tennessee and UTEP at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.

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Tennessee freshman quarterback Jake Merklinger let's it rip during Tennessee spring practice. Credit: Volquest

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When it comes to pure high school quarterback recruiting, there isn’t a program doing it better over these last four cycles than Tennessee.  The Vols

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Tennessee introduced 27 players to their 2024 class on Wednesday, including four-star Calvary Day School (Ga.) standout quarterback Jake Merklinger.

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