Jake Merklinger is the guy behind the guy at quarterback for Tennessee football − and might be another spot down the depth chart entering August.
But whether Merklinger is the backup or the third-stringer going into preseason practices, the freshman still has himself in position to get on the field this season for the Vols.
“He has set himself up to challenge for playing time, which is hard to do in any system in any league for a freshman quarterback,” quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Joey Halzle said.
Merklinger is one of two scholarship quarterbacks for the Vols, who began preseason practices Wednesday. He is behind redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava, who is set to start when UT opens the season against Chattanooga on Aug. 31 (12:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network), and serving as a backup along with senior Gaston Moore.
Why Joey Halzle thinks Jake Merklinger could play for Tennessee football as freshman
Merklinger enrolled early at Tennessee and has made enough of an impression to be in position to get snaps as a freshman.
“You feel like you could just roll him in there and he’s going to know how to call the play, he’s going put his eyes in the right spot,” Halzle said. “Is he going to have some growing pains? Absolutely. But he’s a guy that’s definitely got a chance to contribute as a freshman.”
The 6-foot-3 Merklinger was a four-star prospect in the 2024 class. The Savannah, Georgia, native went through spring practices with the Vols, giving him a chance to learn the playbook and spend time in coach Josh Heupel’s offense prior to the preseason.
Halzle felt that Merklinger parlayed his on-field competitiveness into the way he attacked the entire offseason.
“When you go watch him play basketball or play football and that competitive nature − accompanied with his intelligence − allowed him to attack the offseason training on the board and in the playbook, the same way he would attack the football field,” Halzle said.
ADAMS: Why Tennessee football quarterback room is bigger than just Nico Iamaleava | Adams
Jake Merklinger could follow Nico Iamaleava path as freshman
Iamaleava spent last season behind established starter Joe Milton while waiting his turn to start in 2024. He played in four regular-season games, getting a small crack at live-game opportunities while preserving a redshirt season.
Merklinger could follow a similar path as a freshman if the season proceeds according to Tennessee’s plans. That would allow Merklinger to play and get opportunities likely against nonconference opponents. Given Tennessee’s lack of scholarship-player depth at quarterback, giving Merklinger snaps would be beneficial in case he is called into action.
Heupel rolled Moore, Iamaleava and former Vols QB Navy Shuler in for late-game snaps in 2023 behind Milton. Moore, who transferred to UT from UCF when Heupel was hired, has thrown 17 passes in three seasons.
Iamaleava is presumed to be the starting quarterback for Tennessee for at least the next two seasons. UT has five-star QB George MacIntyre from Brentwood Academy committed in the 2025 class.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football quarterback Jake Merklinger could play as freshman
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