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Jake Merklinger reveals role at 865 Live and talks On3 NIL elite series in Music City

On3 imageby: Austin Price05/31/23AustinPriceless
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NASHVILLE — A cool and calm Jake Merklinger worked the room at the Thompson hotel in Nashville on Tuesday evening. He was chatting up Vol commits and some he hopes to be future Vols. All this just a few days removed from his most recent trip to Knoxville.

“It’s been awesome to be around the guys,” Merklinger said. “To be around the fellow commits and people we want to be commits. It’s been great to see what they are like because they are your future teammates. It’s been real exciting.”

Merklinger was paying attention on Tuesday afternoon when On3 National recruiting inside Josh Newberg out a prediction to Tennessee for Mike Matthews.

“I pay attention to everything about Tennessee for prediction stuff so that fired me up about Mike,” Merklinger said.

And knowing that, he will lean on him more. He watched as Matthews battled fellow Vol target Edwin Spillman in the Madden tournament.

“Momentum is a big thing,” Merklinger said. “It really can be that final factor or how a kid may talk about the school or myself.”

Merklinger would love to add Matthews, Amari Jefferson and Ryan Wingo to go along with JJ Harrell.

“I try not to be overwhelming to them because they are getting questioned by coaches and media but I do try to work on them,” he said. “Just let them know I’d love to play with them and Tennessee would be a good fit for them.”

Having been committed for a few months now, Merklinger just feels loose and believes his decision has been validated.

“It has a huge weight off my shoulders,” Merklinger said, “It’s great to know I made the right decision. I’ve talked to people who may have committed and felt like they didn’t and then decommitted. I don’t feel that way at all.

“I’m super excited to get back for my official next month and then inside Neyland this fall with over 100 thousand plus.”

Watch the full interview below.

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