Jacob Tyler Merklinger (born August 31, 2005) is an American college football quarterback for the UConn Huskies. He played previously for the Tennessee Volunteers.
Merklinger attended Calvary Day School. As a junior, he completed 67 percent of his passes for 1,987 yards, 32 touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed for 283 yards and four touchdowns. As a senior, Merklinger threw for 3,028 yards and 38 touchdowns against two interceptions and added 439 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. He finished his high school career with a 42âÂÂ10 record, tallying 145 total touchdowns, amassing 113 through the air and 32 on the ground.
Merklinger was rated as a four-star recruit and committed to play college football for the Tennessee Volunteers over offers from schools such as Georgia, Michigan State, and North Carolina.
As a freshman in 2024, Merklinger appeared in two games, where he completed six of nine pass attempts for 48 yards and rushed for 22 yards.