'24 GA QB Jake Merklinger (Tennessee)

#505
#505
Jackcrevol said:
There is a certain notoriety when you're landing an instate QB that Georgia coveted. Would be used as marketing out on the trail and with peer rakrooting....moran.
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Nobody is going to look back in 4 years for dawg tears, except maybe you. The kid will make or break himself as a Vol.
 
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#507
#507
This kid will play. There will be no redshirt.
Nico will have 1 year on him, and the trust from coaches. However, Merklinger is also really talented and wants to be great.
Need both QBs to be great. Both should play at least 2 full years as the starter during their careers.
 
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#508
#508
Late to the party, but better late than never!

chicken-chicken-bro.gif
 
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#512
#512
LittleVol said:
This kid will play. There will be no redshirt.
Nico will have 1 year on him, and the trust from coaches. However, Merklinger is also really talented and wants to be great.
Need both QBs to be great. Both should play at least 2 full years as the starter during their careers.
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He could play and redshirt as a freshman. A lot of backups don’t play more than 4 games, assuming Nico stays healthy.
 
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#514
#514
GregAmsler said:
He could play and redshirt as a freshman. A lot of backups don’t play more than 4 games, assuming Nico stays healthy.
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I think he will play more than 4.
Also that will give us the chance to RS the 2025 QB, and create 1 more year of distance between 24, and 25 QBs.

In 2 years whether it was Milton or Hendon, the other QB always had to play eventually.
Hendon at the beginning of 21. Milton at the end of 22. And Merklinger will get plenty of late game cleanup.
 
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#515
#515
GregAmsler said:
He could play and redshirt as a freshman. A lot of backups don’t play more than 4 games, assuming Nico stays healthy.
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I’m advocating getting Nico as many snaps as possible this season as opposed to engineering a redshirt, due to him most likely being the bonafide starter next season and getting as physically (and mentally) prepped as possible. The same sense of urgency wouldn’t be present with Merklinger, but he would be one snap away from being the guy. 🤔
 
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#516
#516
I was kind of surprised reading a Florida forum discussing Merklinger committing to us. There was a fair share of "idc Lagway is better" or "wgas about ut" sentiment. But more than half of the comments seemed to be from some of their fans giving credit to us landing another very good QB, and how it will be routine we land good QB's with Heupel.

Based on what they were saying, Merklinger at one time wanted to commit to Florida but Napier had him hold off as they were in pursuit of Lagway. Some of the fans were saying they wished they went with Merklinger instead.
 
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#517
#517
HoleInTheRoof said:
I was kind of surprised reading a Florida forum discussing Merklinger committing to us. There was a fair share of "idc Lagway is better" or "wgas about ut" sentiment. But more than half of the comments seemed to be from some of their fans giving credit to us landing another very good QB, and how it will be routine we land good QB's with Heupel.

Based on what they were saying, Merklinger at one time wanted to commit to Florida but Napier had him hold off as they were in pursuit of Lagway. Some of the fans were saying they wished they went with Merklinger instead.
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I am so glad they fired cuckadoo, and hired Napier. He is horrible.
 
#518
#518
butchna said:
I’m advocating getting Nico as many snaps as possible this season as opposed to engineering a redshirt, due to him most likely being the bonafide starter next season and getting as physically (and mentally) prepped as possible. The same sense of urgency wouldn’t be present with Merklinger, but he would be one snap away from being the guy. 🤔
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Yeah I was referring to JM in 2024. It would be ideal to get him into 4 games while also redshirting him to create 2 years of separation between him and Nico.
 
#519
#519
GregAmsler said:
Yeah I was referring to JM in 2024. It would be ideal to get him into 4 games while also redshirting him to create 2 years of separation between him and Nico.
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No, I understand your angle…and used to agree with it. But these are different times in Knoxville. If we have a QB not looking to jump to the next level after a couple of seasons starting? He would be having difficulty heading off the next man up. Gone are the days when it was 8-10 years between special QBs imo.
 
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#520
#520
butchna said:
No, I understand your angle…and used to agree with it. But these are different times in Knoxville. If we have a QB not looking to jump to the next level after a couple of seasons starting? He would be having difficulty heading off the next man up. Gone are the days when it was 8-10 years between special QBs imo.
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Now you have a quarterback evaluating quarterbacks like Florida had with Spurrier at the college level
 
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#521
#521
Vols1117 said:
Now you have a quarterback evaluating quarterbacks like Florida had with Spurrier at the college level
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Without the same vicarious competitive element. Spurrier always felt he needed to remind his charges that HE won the Heisman and allowed them to play for his genius.
 
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#525
#525
LittleVol said:
I think he will play more than 4.
Also that will give us the chance to RS the 2025 QB, and create 1 more year of distance between 24, and 25 QBs.

In 2 years whether it was Milton or Hendon, the other QB always had to play eventually.
Hendon at the beginning of 21. Milton at the end of 22. And Merklinger will get plenty of late game cleanup.
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a good bit different situation, but Milton had about 500 passing yards before the Vandy game. Which all would have been mop up duty.
ended up just under 1k IIRC.

I think a couple things will lead to Nico getting more time than Milton.

This last year we had the luxury of a good QB room, so we could "risk" Hendon a little more, letting him play more. in '23 we don't have that same depth,

Also we don't have a 4th year with starting experience to lean on, so I think they want to get Nico's feet wet. we need that experience, last year we had the experience.

Our defense was suspect at best in '22. definitely improved over '21, but not good enough to depend on to win a game, even though we did win some with them on the field. '23 we should be better. So I think there will be more of a trust factor when we aren't up by 35 pts.

Improved run game. all of our rbs are back, our pass blocking may be a bit suspect, and we were good running the ball last year. Easier to trust a freshman who is handing off more often than dropping back. would also make the RPO game a little more effective if the other teams are biting on the FR just handing the ball off.
 
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