Jake Merklinger, a Savannah, Georgia native, served as Tennessee’s third string quarterback during his first season and went through spring ball earning a red shirt.

We’re now just one week away from our first official game week, meaning we’ll get our first look at Tennessee’s depth chart ahead of the Syracuse matchup in Atlanta. The paper handed out to the media is sure to be filled with plenty of -OR- designations as the staff won’t want to give too much away.

With two weeks to go until the start of the 2025 season, the Tennessee Vols' starting quarterback battle is nearing its conclusion. UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar, redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger, and true freshman George MacIntyre are competing for the Vols' staring quarterback job.