4-star QB Jake Merklinger commits to Tennessee: 'Standing in the stadium with that uniform on, it just felt right.'

Everything seemed to fall into place for Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Day School four-star quarterback Jake Merklinger following his last visit to Tennessee. At the time Merklinger was weighing his options between Michigan State, North Carolina and Tennessee.

That last visit ultimately made the decision for Merklinger as he announced his commitment to the Volunteers Thursday afternoon.

“It was tough to get to my final decision,” Merklinger told On3. “It required a lot of prayer and saying no to schools who had been recruiting you for so long and relationships that you built for such a long time is really tough. Especially with people who you genuinely could have seen yourself going to that school but it wasn’t the right fit.

“When I was at my photoshoot in the stadium during my most recent visit, it felt like Tennessee was the right spot. I went home and talked with my family but standing in the stadium with that uniform on, it just felt right.”

Tennessee first offered Merklinger last summer and have been in constant contact with him throughout the year.

“I was leaning towards Tennessee a little bit and going into the other trips, I was like ‘Okay well Tennessee is here. Will this school be ahead of Tennessee after the visit?’,” Merklinger said. “That happened multiple times where I came away from the visit saying Tennessee wasn’t ahead anymore. I went on that final visit to Tennessee and it showed me that Tennessee was the place I needed to be.” 

Relationships with Josh Heupel, Joey Halzle key to Merklinger’s decision

According to Merklinger, Tennessee really gained the upper-hand in his recruitment when Josh Heupel and Joey Halzle came to one of his basketball games.

“That meant a lot to me,” Merklinger said. “I go to a smaller school and our gym is smaller but it meant a lot to my school to see a coach from a prestigious SEC program was there. It made me feel wanted.”

Merklinger’s relationship with Halzle goes back to just before the Volunteers offered him. On his first visit last spring he spent the entire time with Halzle getting to know him and a week later Halzle extended an offer to him following a throwing session,

“I think he’s a phenomenal coach,” Merklinger said. “I got to sit down with him and he showed me how he’s developed quarterbacks. He’d show me clips of a quarterback from two years before he got with him and a clip of that same quarterback two years after he worked with him. It’s phenomenal to see that development.”

Merklinger also noted that his relationship with Heupel is just as strong as his relationship with Halzle. Merklinger said that he’s talked to Heupel more than any other head coach and has also spent time Heupel and his family at their home.

On top of the personal relationship, Heupel’s knowledge of the game in the modern day is something that really stood out to Merklinger.

“I think what makes him so successful is his dedication,” Merklinger said. “He’s really in touch with recruits no matter what the position is and he also played at a high level so he knows what it’s like to be recruited. He won as a player and is now winning as a coach.”