Tennessee Signs $800 Million 4-star Prolific Star QB…

Tennessee football has officially added its quarterback for the class of 2024, as Jake Merklinger signs with the Vols on Signing Day.

On Wednesday morning, Tennessee football formally added four-star quarterback Jake Merklinger from Savannah, Georgia’s Calvary Day School to its 2024 recruiting class. On March 30, Merklinger chose the Vols over his other top choices, Georgia, Michigan State, and North Carolina.

The industry-generated 247Sports Composite ranks Merklinger as the No. 129 overall prospect, No. 10 quarterback in the 2024 class, and No. 18 senior from the state of Georgia. Merklinger was one of the Vols’ top quarterback targets for months before they extended a scholarship offer in May of 2022. Additionally, 247Sports, which ranks him as the No. 221 overall player and No. 13 quarterback in the 2024 class, has given him a four-star prospect rating.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound gunslinger returned to Tennessee in November to see the Vols play host to top-ranked Georgia, attending his final game at Neyland Stadium as a recruit. He told GoVols247 recruiting analyst Ryan Callahan at the time that he enjoyed traveling to Knoxville, and that he was looking forward to getting an early start on his college career by participating in some of UT’s on-campus bowl practices this month before enrolling in January.

“I can’t wait to get up here,” Merklinger exclaimed. “Coming back to Knoxville and witnessing the crazy atmosphere was truly exhilarating. It was an intense match. What a strong team that is. Speaking with the coaches, I think well of them. We’ll be fine, I believe, and they’ll recover.

Merklinger said he’s still excited about the direction of Tennessee’s program and the chance to play in the Vols’ fast-paced offense.

“I feel good about it,” he said. “I think it’s a very similar offense to mine, so I think that’ll help me when I get here. I’m just excited to get here. Watching their offense, it’s always been fun, explosive, and I think they’re really good.”

Earlier this year, before making his college decision, Merklinger admitted he “was stressed, but now I’m not.” He said he knows he’s “coming to Tennessee,” and he has spent most of his time over the past few weeks focusing on his Calvary Day team’s playoff run.

At Ellenwood, Georgia’s Cedar Grove High School, the Cavaliers suffered a 49-42 defeat on Friday night to conclude their season. In the presence of first-year tight ends coach Alec Abeln and Tennessee offensive coordinator Joey Halzle, Merklinger completed 21 of 29 passes for 275 yards and five touchdowns, as well as a 22-yard touchdown run with 4:16 left in the game, according to the Savannah Morning News.

Merklinger, Tennessee’s lone quarterback commitment in the 2024 recruiting class, has accepted an invitation to participate in the Polynesian Bowl in Honolulu on January 19.