Former Tennessee Vols quarterback finds new home after entering the NCAA transfer portal
Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Jake Merklinger has a new home in college football.
A former Tennessee Vols quarterback has a new home in college football.
Former Tennessee quarterback Jake Merklinger announced his commitment to the UConn Huskies on Wednesday morning.
UConn recently hired Jason Candle as the program’s new head coach.
Candle, who spent the last 10 seasons as the head coach at Toledo, replaces Jim L. Mora at UConn (Mora is now the head coach at Colorado State).
Jake Merklinger spent the first two seasons of his career at Tennessee
Merklinger, who grew up rooting for the Georgia Bulldogs, spent the first two seasons of his career at Tennessee after signing with the Vols as a four-star recruit during the 2024 cycle.
The Georgia native entered the transfer portal in December. Merklinger likely saw the writing on the wall and understood that he would be below George MacIntyre and incoming five-star signee Faizon Brandon on the depth chart.
Merklinger passed for 221 yards during his two seasons with the Vols.
Tennessee, by the way, is still looking for a third scholarship quarterback to pair with MacIntyre and Brandon. So far, the Vols have struck out on each of their transfer targets.
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