Tennessee football QB Jake Merklinger after beating Syracuse in the Aflac Kickoff Game (Ryan Sylvia | RTI)

Former Tennessee football quarterback Jake Merklinger has found his new school through the transfer portal. On Thursday morning, he announced that he has committed to UConn and will join Jason Candle in his first year coaching the Huskies.

Merklinger just finished his redshirt-freshman season with Tennessee and will have three years of eligibility remaining. He was entrenched in a surprise quarterback battle with Joey Aguilar in the fall after Nico Iamaleava left in the spring portal window. Aguilar won the battle and started all 13 games of the 2025 season.

On the season, Merklinger completed 13-of-24 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. He did not throw any interceptions. As a true freshman, he was the third-string option behind Iamaleava and Gaston Moore. That year, he completed 6-of-9 attempts for 48 yards, no touchdowns and no picks.

Let’s Go! @UConnFootball pic.twitter.com/5nQ4aziEed

— Jake Merklinger (@JakeMerklinger) January 15, 2026

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Merklinger was a four-star recruit out of high school, according to 247. He was considered the No. 212 player in the class and No. 13 quarterback in the cycle.

“I think it’s like your entire roster where there are moving pieces,” Vols head coach Josh Heupel said after Merklinger’s decision to transfer. “And Jake made a choice that he felt like was right for him and we support him. Jake has been a great teammate while he has been here and grown and competed. Obviously, George (MacIntyre) will be the number two here going into the bowl game. And then as we finish that up and (Merklinger) enters the portal, with everything that’s going on with Joey and all those pieces, we’ll look to put that room in a position to help us go compete for a championship.”

Merklinger has a good chance to be the starter for UConn next season under Candle. Huskies 2025 starter Joe Fagnano is out of eligibility, and backup Nick Evers transferred out following the season.