Jake Merklinger's Downfield Ability Sparking Major Interest
Head coach Josh Heupel always remains active with quarterbacks. While he may be making less noise in the 2024 cycle, a few players have still caught his attention.
Cavalry Day's Jake Merklinger is one of those players. He tossed 32 touchdowns on 20.5 yards per attempt as a junior, leading Cavalry Day to an 11-1 record. Merklinger is among the top quarterback recruits and has visited Tennessee several times. Heupel and offensive coordinator Joey Halzle recently attended one of his high school basketball games and are making him feel like a priority.
Their top target in the 2024 class appears to be Jadyn Davis, but that battle seems to be trending toward Michigan. However, Merklinger has some strong traits that would make him an excellent addition to the class. Heupel can hurt defenses in many ways, but the explosive way is the most efficient way to do so.
Merklinger is one of the most explosive quarterbacks in the country. He has a strong arm and can fit balls into tight windows from different platforms. Merklinger ensures he gets full rotation through his hips when attacking downfield, putting maximum torque on the ball.
Evaluating downfield throwers can be tricky; even when a prospect's tape is littered with long touchdowns, it doesn't mean they are a strong quarterback prospect. From there, you must ask yourself: does the coach trust them? Are they running different formations and looks, or are they running similar sets and letting playmakers run by inferior competition?
While Cavalry Day has some impressive skill talent, Merklinger makes a lot of this work himself. He understands three-level concepts and can make the right decision in his progression. When he arrives in college, Merklinger may have to work on his internal clock, as he sometimes lets his process get sped up, but aside from that, he is as strong as they come from presnap to postsnap.
Merklinger's pocket presence may be his best attribute. He knows how to avoid rushers and steps up in clean pockets, which many young quarterbacks refuse to do. It's fun to make something work outside the hash marks, but that becomes a rarity in college.
He's also a plus athlete with experience in the quarterback-keeper game. Merklinger's process is similar there: he wants to make an explosive play but proceeds with caution before finding an opening.
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