Quarterback Jake Merklinger receives new contract ahead of 2025 season

He’ll battle for the starting job this fall.

In true new-era college football style, a Tennessee quarterback with no playing experience and no guarantees to be the 2025 starter received a new contract ahead of the fall. Jake Merklinger, who has suddenly been pushed into the spotlight in Knoxville, received a new contract ahead of the 2025 season, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.

Merklinger is a former four-star prospect who spent last season as the third-string quarterback behind Nico Iamaleava and Gaston Moore. Moore hit the portal back in the winter, then Iamaleava shocked the college football world by entering the portal this spring. He would end up moving on to UCLA.

Tennessee, left with just Merklinger and George MacIntyre on the roster, added former Appalachian State and (briefly) UCLA quarterback Joey Aguilar out of the portal. The trio are expected to battle it out for the starting job this fall, with Aguilar now hoping to arrive at some point in the middle of May.

Per On3, Merklinger was the 12th ranked quarterback in the class of 2024. The redshirt freshman was barely used last season in mop-up time, completing six of his nine passes. With Iamaleava already out, Merklinger and MacIntyre split quarterback duties in the Orange and White Game.

Aguilar’s experience is obviously a massive boost in this battle, but Josh Heupel’s offense is unique. Merklinger has been working with Heupel for over a year, while MacIntyre has been with the team since December. Can Aguilar make up that much much ground to secure the starting job? That remains to be seen.

Whatever happens, it sounds like Merklinger got a raise. We saw a similar situation play out with cornerback Rickey Gibson earlier this offseason following the Jermod McCoy injury. In situations where players have all the leverage, their agents are going to take advantage — like it or not.