Jake Merklinger has decided to move away from Tennessee for the 2026 season. The four-star recruit was the 13th-best quarterback in the nation for the class of 2024. He will be a coveted piece now in the transfer portal, with plenty of years of eligibility left and a high ceiling to reach.
Here are some of the potential destinations for the Volunteers quarterback.
Top 5 Potential Destinations For Jake Merklinger
#5 North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tar Heels’ 2025 season was a disappointment, with the Chapel Hill school finishing near the bottom of the ACC with a record of 4-8. Gio Lopez’s poor performance was a big part of North Carolina’s failure. He only threw for 1747 yards, with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. Could a former four-star recruit like Jake Merklinger be the one to reignite the program under Bill Belichick’s lead?
#4 Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans have seemingly decided to entirely revamp their program by dismissing Jonathan Smith after two seasons and sending quarterback Aidan Chiles to the transfer portal. A new quarterback is at the top of the Spartans’ list of needs, and Merklinger could be the rock on which they could build a new start.
#3 Auburn Tigers
Jackson Arnold has reportedly two years of eligibility left, and he could still be the man for new coach Alex Golesh at Auburn. But let’s examine the relationship between Alex Golesh and Jake Merklinger. Golesh was Tennessee’s offensive coordinator when Merklinger was being scouted by the Volunteers. Also, the coach’s “veer-and-shoot” hyper-tempo offense could be a great fit for the signal-caller.
#2 UCF Knights
Let’s face it, Tayven Jackson isn’t the best quarterback. With 2151 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, he borders on mediocre. Gus Malzahn’s offense needs a quarterback who’s able to handle RPOs and quick decision-making. Merklinger can be this, while also allowing the player to remain in the South and near home.
#1 Georgia Bulldogs
It’s an entire mystery whether or not Gunner Stockton will return for a final season with the Georgia Bulldogs or not. Regardless, a move to Athens could be great for Jake Merklinger. It brings him to his home state, and even if Stockton returns in 2026, he would only have to wait one season to be the frontrunner for the starting job at one of the top programs in the nation.
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