Tennessee Continues To Build Offensive Core Around QB Jake Merklinger

The Tennessee Volunteers continue to build a strong offensive core around 2024 quarterback commit Jake Merklinger, but who are their next targets?

Brady Penn | Jul 3, 2023

Tennessee Continues To Build Offensive Core Around QB Jake Merklinger /

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Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel has emphasized recruiting since he walked into the building ahead of the 2021 season. So far, it has paid off, as the program is amid its greatest success in years. With the hype building for the 2023 Vols, the coaches have kept their foot on the gas in prepping for the next generation of Orange.

In the last couple of weeks, the Vols have garnered commitments from running back Peyton Lewis, defensive back Boo Carter, and, most recently, wide receiver Braylon Staley. One reason Tennessee has been able to bolster the class, especially on the offensive end, is because of one of the earlier commitments.

A few months ago, a big question was which 2024 quarterback would commit to Tennessee, Jake Merklinger or Jadyn Davis. The Vols had recruited Davis for years, who was garnering college attention from when he was an eighth grader. Meanwhile, Merklinger was a late riser, posting impressive numbers in his junior season that propelled him into the national limelight. Ultimately, Tennessee decided Merklinger was their guy and pushed their chips in. He committed in March and hasn't wavered since, becoming the offensive centerpiece of Tennessee's class. With a quarterback locked in, the Vols could start searching for supporting pieces on the offensive end to aid Merklinger. They did just that, adding several offensive pieces over the past few months. However, their work isn't done. Multiple priority targets come off the board this week, with others looming in the distance.

Tennessee's Top Uncommitted Offensive Targets

Braylen Russell, RB
Mike Matthews, WR
Ryan Wingo, WR
Amari Jefferson, WR
Roger Saleapaga, TE
Bennett Warren, OT
Daniel Calhoun, OT
William Satterwhite, OG
Ronan O'Connell, OG

The Vols should come away with multiple guys off this list. Merklinger has been an integral part of several recruitments, making it out to Rocky Top three times since his decision. He also got plenty of work during the On3 NIL Elite Series in June, an event hosting many Tennessee targets in Nashville, Tennessee. Tennessee intends to take a quarterback each recruiting cycle under Heupel and build a unique core around each signal caller. Merklinger has his eyes set on the prospects he wants, and the Vols are in lockstep.

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Published Jul 3, 2023

BRADY PENN

Brady Penn is a writer who has spent multiple years covering sports for multiple publications. Starting with "The Clarion", Brevard College's school publication, where he won an award for Sportswriting from the North Carolina Collegiate Media Association. Brady continues his work with The Clarion, as well as writing for SI's Volunteer Country and writing Braves pieces for SportsTalkATL.com. Brady is a rising Senior at Brevard, where he plays Football and does Play-by-Play broadcasting for BC Baseball, Men's/Women's Basketball and Softball.