'24 GA QB Jake Merklinger (Tennessee)

[BigOrangeFanatic]

I can think of 8 million reasons why Nico will be the starter next year.

 

[PKT_VOL]

I can think of 8 million reasons why Nico will be the starter next year.

This is the dangerous part of NIL.

If Nico starts, it better be because he's better (presumably because he's had an extra year in the system and in the weight room). If it's due to NIL, UT suffers by having an inferior QB on the field.

If Nico rides the bench, think of him as our Jimbo.

 

[volfan411]

This is the dangerous part of NIL.

If Nico starts, it better be because he's better (presumably because he's had an extra year in the system and in the weight room). If it's due to NIL, UT suffers by having an inferior QB on the field.

If Nico rides the bench, think of him as our Jimbo.

Nico is too good to ride the bench but if Merk beats him out it would free up about 6 million of NIL money.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

My point is for those that are assuming Nico will be the starting QB next year. What has he done to show anyone on this board that he should be the starter next year?

If CJH announces him the starter before spring I trust him but for those assuming he is the starter on here are foolish.

Dude this is Nico’s team. Do you really think Heupel is gonna start a true freshman QB over the more experienced QB? Heupel doesn’t have to announce Nico is the starter. He is and we all know it.

Last year Hooker was the unquestioned starter. Milton didn’t push him at all. Everyone knew it. Did you not just assume Hooker was the starter last year?

 

[PKT_VOL]

Nico is too good to ride the bench but if Merk beats him out it would free up about 6 million of NIL money.

Depends on how the NIL contract is written.

 

[BigOrangeFanatic]

This is the dangerous part of NIL.

If Nico starts, it better be because he's better (presumably because he's had an extra year in the system and in the weight room). If it's due to NIL, UT suffers by having an inferior QB on the field.

If Nico rides the bench, think of him as our Jimbo.

Merkalinger will have to have some crazy special skillset that sets him completely apart for the staff to start him over Nico, together with Nico just looking like total garbage like 100% of the time. I don't know that either will happen, doesn't mean Merkalinger can't be a great QB one day, but Nico is gonna be the QB next year.

 

[PKT_VOL]

Merkalinger will have to have some crazy special skillset that sets him completely apart for the staff to start him over Nico, together with Nico just looking like total garbage like 100% of the time. I don't know that either will happen, doesn't mean Merkalinger can't be a great QB one day, but Nico is gonna be the QB next year.

I fully expect Nico to be the starter next year via merit by a considerable margin. Aside from the fact that he's had an extra year in the system and weight room, his teammates are getting autographed gloves from him thinking they will be a cool artifact one day.

However, we also thought Harrison Bailey was going to set the world on fire and Milton best out Hooker. These things can go in surprising directions. I just want a free and fair competition which would benefit everyone.

 

[BigOrangeFanatic]

I fully expect Nico to be the starter next year via merit by a considerable margin. Aside from the fact that he's had an extra year in the system and weight room, his teammates are getting autographed gloves from him thinking they will be a cool artifact one day.

However, we also thought Harrison Bailey was going to set the world on fire and Milton best out Hooker. These things can go in surprising directions. I just want a free and fair competition which would benefit everyone.

There will be a competition. Never said there wouldn't be. Just pointing out Nico has the leg up though from already being there, learning the system, etc. Outside of transferring or getting kicked off the team, I just don't see Merklinger being good enough to pass Nico in training camp.

 

[butchna]

Merk enrolls early, does the off-season work, learns the offense and displays a better grasp of it and makes better throws in practice opposite of a talented player who spent a calendar year practicing and learning instead of playing in high school? Yeah...then there's competition. Otherwise, it's REALITY.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Not to say Merk won't be good but I don't think he's gonna be starting as a true freshman.

 

[Orange_Crush]

I can think of 8 million reasons why Nico will be the starter next year.

There will be a competition. Never said there wouldn't be. Just pointing out Nico has the leg up though from already being there, learning the system, etc. Outside of transferring or getting kicked off the team, I just don't see Merklinger being good enough to pass Nico in training camp.

That looked like about three reasons of the eight million you mentioned.

We all knew what you meant.

 

[ERvolsfan]

I wonder if he will get a rating/rankings bump as all these services re evaluate players at end of seasons...

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

 

[KptVFL]

 

[TucoVol]

BM!!! GB

 

[LouderVol]

freaking finally, been waiting ALL DAY. BOOOOOM!

 

[wrangler]

BOOM!!!

 

[Glitch]

 

[KnoxToTheBoro93]

I was (still am) on the Nico train.

I WAS THE FIRST TO SAY HE WAS THE NUMBER PLAYER IN AMERICA BEFORE HIS SENIOR YEAR EVEN STARTED !! (y'all forget so easily)

ME!!

I SAID THAT ABOUT NICO.

AND I'm telling you all...Nico needs to improve in a hurry if he's going to beat this kid out spring - fall.

Lol Jake will be good for us but Nico will win this job easily has a full year head start in the system and the god given gifts that only few have…

 

[csprig9]

Boom

 

[Orange.]

Boom!

 

[StoVol]

 

[butchna]

Throwin ‘em open!

 

[DiderotsGhost]

This is the dangerous part of NIL.

If Nico starts, it better be because he's better (presumably because he's had an extra year in the system and in the weight room). If it's due to NIL, UT suffers by having an inferior QB on the field.

If Nico rides the bench, think of him as our Jimbo.

Fortunately, I don't think Heupel cares about the NIL money. He's going to pick the QB that he thinks is better.

The irony here is that the NIL money might make the 'losing QB' in the battle more loyal. We are probably paying out more than most other universities, so if either QB leaves, they probably make less money. I don't necessarily think that's how they are thinking --- I think good QBs want to play and make the NFL and would take a "pay cut" to do that, but they do have a monetary incentive to be a backup.

 

[knox73]

Georgia Dogs lost Ravioli to Nebraska and now wish they had recruited Jake harder - who will be a sec star with the Vols.