OT: 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.

 

[MTHusky]

Welcome Jake Merklinger, to the Dog Pound

 

[BRS24]

Dayumm. Color me happy National Flag Blue.

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

"But I will not wear that gaudy orange. I will not. It is not my color wheel and I'm not gonna wear it." - Leigh Anne Touhy, The Blind Side

(side note, I went to the 2016 Outback Bowl in Tampa. Tennessee crushed Northwestern, and OMG the orange checkered overalls were ... something.)

 

[businesslawyer]

1. Everyone will have to win their jobs in camp with an entirely new roster as well as staff, BUT this guy was brought in to be our starting QB. Not just how he was thought of coming out of high school but, unlike our last two Big Ten transfer QBs, his numbers (albeit in cameos) at Tennessee are such that he will take the first snap in the first practice. And make no mistake — getting him here cost us real money. Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s the highest paid player on the team next year.

2. Tucker M still has four years left if he wants it, as his injury this year would entitle him to a second redshirt year. He will be competing with the guy who started for Toledo in its bowl game for the #2 job. But if Merklinger reaches his potential here (which hopefully he does) he could easily transfer out as easily as he transferred in, so Tucker could certainly be playing the long game knowing that if it doesn’t work out for him next year he can always go somewhere with three years of eligibility left.

3. This means the highly touted incoming frosh who decommitted from Toledo to commit here with Candle doesn’t have to be pushed on the field as a true frosh unless he’s truly ready.

This is a major positive step forward, as opposed to just trading our roster for Toledo’s which may or may not turn out to be a step forward.

 

[jostar1]

Benedict in 2024 talking about NIL:

“We’re going to double it next year, at least,” he said. “We’re going to pour gas on it. We’re going to win in football. I’m tired of being disrespected as a brand, nationally, because of football."

 

[Stinger92860]

If he starts, has an excellent year, he could be a one and done, and I’m good with that.

 

[AllHusky]

Biz,
#1 Don't disagree with your point about Merklinger starting. Would have thought that when Evers came in, Fagnano didn't have a chance.
#2 Don't want to entertain thought of Merklinger transferring out anymore than I want to think about Candle leaving.
#3 Big boy programs are able to redshirt "highly touted" frosh. Looks like we are trending that way

 

[Coach J]

This is a program defining recruit for Coach Candle - make no mistake this was a tremendous get for this program. The way the rest of the offense is shaping up with multiple weapons - we will be tough to defend next year. And with the way our Defense is taking shape we won't need to win every game in a shootout - we will be very exciting to watch next year!

 

[businesslawyer]

Biz,
#1 Don't disagree with your point about Merklinger starting. Would have thought that when Evers came in, Fagnano didn't have a chance.
#2 Don't want to entertain thought of Merklinger transferring out anymore than I want to think about Candle leaving.
#3 Big boy programs are able to redshirt "highly touted" frosh. Looks like we are trending that way

Evers was brought in to be our starting QB, period. None of us know whether or not he deserved to start at Maryland in ‘24 based on camp, but start he did. But remember, he got hurt in his first game which gave Fagnano his chance, and then with both of them playing based on Evers health Fagnano just outplayed him. Remember, Evers started the 11th game in ‘24 before getting hurt yet again at UAB.