JAKE MERKLINGER NEWS

Aguilar discusses development of Vols QBs Jake Merklinger, George MacIntyre Tennessee's starting quarterback weighs in on the progress he has seen this season from the two scholarship quarterbacks behind him on the V...

NOVEMBER 10 • 247SPORTS.COM

What to know about Jake Merklinger, Tennessee football's backup quarterback Jake Merklinger is a Tennessee football backup quarterback who played in two games in 2024 as a freshman. He and George MacIntyre back up Jo...

SEPTEMBER 6 • KNOXNEWS.COM

How Jake Merklinger, George MacIntyre reacted to being Joey Aguilar backups for Tennessee Josh Heupel told Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre that they’d be backup quarterbacks in the same breath he revealed Joey Aguilar would s...

AUGUST 19 • TENNESSEAN.COM

No. 24 Tennessee trying to build off CFP berth with new QB in Josh Heupel's 5th season

Josh Heupel has a new starting quarterback for his 24th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers

AUGUST 18 • Associated Press

Joey Aguilar set to start at QB for No. 24 Tennessee in season opener

Joey Aguilar is set start at quarterback for No. 24 Tennessee in the Volunteers’ season opener against Syracuse

AUGUST 18 • Associated Press

Not starting season opener Merklinger will start the season as a backup for the Volunteers, per Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.com.

Impact Merklinger has been locked in a position battle for the starting role with fellow signal-caller Joey Aguilar throughout the offseason, but Aguilar is set to start the 2025 season for Tennessee. Merklinger will likely begin the season as the primary backup for the Volunteers.

AUGUST 17 • ROTOWIRE

Unlikely to secure starting job Merklinger is falling behind Joey Aguilar in the race for the starting quarterback, On3 Sports reports.

Impact Merklinger was in a heated battle for the starting job entering fall camp, but it appears that Aguilar has edged ahead and will likely lay claim the starting job. Even so, Aguilar will likely have a shorter leash than some of the other starters around the college ranks, with Merklinger waiting in the wings.

AUGUST 13 • ROTOWIRE

Struggles in scrimmage Saturday Merklinger struggled in Saturday's scrimmage, according to Patrick Brown of 247Sports.com.

Impact Merklinger and Joey Aguilar appear set as the two candidates to claim the starting quarterback job this fall, but Aguilar outplayed Merklinger in this scrimmage. No decision has been made, but the sophomore must deliver a better showing in the coming days. The Vols will have a complicated debut against Syracuse on Aug. 30.

AUGUST 9 • ROTOWIRE

QB competition down to two Merklinger and Joey Aguilar appear set as the two candidates to claim the starting quarterback job this fall, Pete Nakos of On3 reports.

Impact Merklinger was one of three players mentioned by head coach Josh Heupel, along with Aguilar and freshman George MacIntyre, vying for the starting job under center this fall during SEC Media Days. However, MacIntyre has been working with the third team during fall camp, likely dropping him out of the running for the starting job. The Vols open their season Aug. 30 with a sizable matchup against Syracuse, so it wouldn't be surprising if Heupel makes a decision on the starter with ample time to get him prepared for the opener.

AUGUST 7 • ROTOWIRE

DB Boo Carter with Vols but work to do before hitting field for Tennessee, coach says

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said Tuesday that sophomore defensive back Boo Carter is with the Volunteers as they start preseason practice

JULY 29 • Associated Press

Why Tennessee football fans pick a favorite quarterback before competition begins Some Tennessee fans already picked a favorite QB: Joey Aguilar, Jake Merklinger or George MacIntyre. But why so soon? We discuss on the Vols...

JULY 22 • KNOXNEWS.COM

Who will start at QB for the Tennessee Vols? Analyzing UT's QB battle between Joey Aguilar, Jake Merklinger, George MacIntyre | Sporting News Which Tennessee Volunteers quarterback will win the starting job in Josh Heupel's offense?

JULY 22 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Tennessee embraces QB battle as Florida, Mississippi State seek new heights

The Southeastern Conference’s evolving quarterback situations continued to be a focal point of SEC media days

JULY 16 • Associated Press

Could this 2025 Tennessee QB competition turn out like Hendon Hooker vs Joe Milton? Joey Aguilar, Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre will compete in Tennessee's first quarterback competition since 2021.

JULY 15 • TENNESSEAN.COM

In three-man race for QB1 Merklinger will compete against Joey Aguilar and George MacIntyre to be Tennessee's starting quarterback, Brett McMurphy of On3 reports.

Impact Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 215 pounds, Merklinger is a quarterback entering his second season with Tennessee. The first saw him log six completions and seven carries for a combined 70 all-purpose yards, which neither Aguilar nor McIntyre has logged for UT. However, Merklinger is not FBS proven as Aguilar and is no longer a new hot recruit like McIntyre, so the redshirt freshman will have his work cut out for him.

JULY 15 • ROTOWIRE

Sizing up Tennessee football QB battle: Joey Aguilar vs Jake Merklinger, George MacIntyre Tennessee fans have questions about the competition between Joey Aguilar, Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre. Let's answer them in the Vol...

JULY 10 • TENNESSEAN.COM

More than half the SEC will have new QBs in 2025, though some changes come with continuity

More than half the teams in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference will have new starting quarterbacks this fall

APRIL 30 • Associated Press

What Josh Heupel said about Joey Aguilar in first comments on Tennessee QB competition Josh Heupel indicated that UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar will have to beat out Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre for Tennessee's starting QB...

APRIL 29 • KNOXNEWS.COM

How Phillip Fulmer would handle Tennessee quarterbacks Joey Aguilar, Jake Merklinger Phillip Fulmer leaned on Peyton Manning, Casey Clausen and Erik Ainge as new quarterbacks. Here's his advice for Tennessee's current QB situ...

APRIL 28 • KNOXNEWS.COM

Is Joey Aguilar or Jake Merklinger the early favorite in Tennessee quarterback competition? UCLA’s disposable goods became Tennessee's prize. But will transfer Joey Aguilar win the starting job over Jake Merklinger? Here's an early...

APRIL 23 • NEWS-JOURNALONLINE.COM

Tennessee QB replacements for Nico Iamaleava: Jake Merklinger, Jadyn Davis among Vols' best options in 2025 | Sporting News Tennessee coach Josh Heupel has said the Vols will be seeking to add a quarterback during the spring transfer portal window. Who will be ava...

APRIL 15 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

What Vols QBs Jake Merklinger, George MacIntyre said after Nico Iamaleava's departure Tennessee's two remaining scholarship quarterbacks, Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre, spoke with reporters Saturday after the Vols' spri...

APRIL 12 • 247SPORTS.COM

Nico Iamaleava gone from Tennessee as Heupel says no one is 'bigger than the Power T'

The Tennessee Volunteers are moving forward without quarterback Nico Iamaleava with coach Josh Heupel giving his team a simple message Saturday

APRIL 12 • Associated Press

Nico Iamaleava transfer portal: Meet new Tennessee starting QB Jake Merklinger Can Merklinger be just as good, if not better, than Iamaleava?

APRIL 12 • 247SPORTS.COM

Why there's a 'different feel' for QB Jake Merklinger in his second year at Tennessee Jake Merklinger is poised to be Tennessee’s backup quarterback in 2025, and he’s much more settled in his second year in the program.

MARCH 24 • 247SPORTS.COM