2026 UConn Football Commit - Jake Merklinger (Savannah, Georgia)

[huskymedic]

Run silent … run deep:



Jake Merklinger is a 6-3 215lb QB from Savannah Georgia attending Tennessee. Transfer Portal w/ three years of eligibility remaining.

https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/jake-merklinger/22022

Former Tennessee QB Jake Merklinger announces transfer destination

.

www.on3.com

 

[AllHusky]

Let me be the first to Welcome you to UConn and the Boneyard Jake!! Go Huskies.

 

[Stinger92860]

BOOM goes the dynamite!!!

 

[huskymedic]

 

[CCSUblue]

We're going to have a legit QB battle going into the season! This is awesome.

 

[Stinger92860]

We may have a number of legit battles across most of the positions. I cannot wait to see this team on the field. Not expecting miracles, but it should be entertaining.

 

[gopher2]

YES! A P2 portal QB! Welcome, Jake. I think you will have a great time at UConn and help us win a lot of football games!

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Tdaley]

Wow! I am ready for the season to start NOW!!!

 

[Nameless]

This guy was basically a top 200 recruit... A legitimate high 4 star. This is awesome! I really thought Osborne was definitely the guy but idk now. Love the competition heading into camp! Welcome Jake!

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Some of his many P4 offers coming out of high school:

• Arkansas
• Auburn
• Florida
• Georgia
• Louisville
• Miami
• Michigan State
• Iowa state
• Ole Miss

 

[Samoo]

First off, great get by HCJC2! Size and skills, and he played well in limited opportunities (unlike Evers).

Second, it is hard to comprehend how bad Sports Illustrated's AI writes, and it is pretty clear they don't even edit it.

What's that you say? "Merklinger is not going to cost the Cavaliers a lot of money AND is not going to be extremely expensive".

 

[WestCoastHusky]

Between him and Osborne, we should have a very good QB this upcoming season. Candle is recruiting like a mad man right now 👍

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

How quickly the narrative can shift in college football these days.

This is a pipe dream recruiting/transfer class for us 5 years ago.

 

[huskymedic]

Second, it is hard to comprehend how bad Sports Illustrated's AI writes, and it is pretty clear they don't even edit it.

I cringe when I see an UConn SI article - I pass on posting most of them.

 

[AllHusky]

This might fall into the OMG recruit category. I think Osborne is going to the guy though.

 

[freescooter]

This is a very nice get. Very nice. And he has at least some game stats which don’t require mental gymnastics to let you justify the move which is what we sort of had to do with some earlier portal qbs.

So I guess the people worried about Candle’s ability in the portal are ok now. 😉

 

[DCUconnfan]

Much better quick hit article from the local news station:

https://www.wbir.com/article/sports/college/vols/jake-merklinger-commits-to-uconn/51-88617c96-04eb-4012-b10f-20ab965bb435

 

[NEforceUConn]

Dayumm. Color me happy National Flag Blue.

Welcome aboard young man. Danny O is your target to emulate.

 

[HCCForever]

Dayumm. Color me happy National Flag Blue.

Welcome aboard your man. Danny O is your target to emulate.

I’ll be very happy if Jake can get close to emulating Dan O while keeping his string of no interceptions the way Joe limited interceptions. Welcome aboard Jake.

 

[jskwrite]

Georgia Tech appeared to be very interested if not main target to be their QB next season... I don't know anything about him, haven't seen video, but the teams who recruited him and were interested in the portal cycle says a lot.

 

[uconntailgater]

This is huge. Looking forward to spring practice. Hopefully all these portal transfer athletes are enrolling early and will be available for spring practice.