Tennessee's quarterback of the 2024 class, Jake Merklinger, is officially a Vol.

The four-star quarterback out of Savannah, Ga. signed on Wednesday morning.

Here's what you need to know on the signee.

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Merklinger may not have much of an opportunity while Nico Iamaleava begins his young career, but he is plenty capable of becoming an effective SEC quarterback.

The pro-style signal-caller is best in the pocket with time to throw. He boasts an accurate arm that is capable of hitting on deep balls.

However, when facing pressure, he maneuvers well to relocate while keeping his eyes down the field. He's made plenty of big splashes while avoiding defenders and finding an open man.

In high school, Merklinger ran an offense that featured similar concepts at times to the Vols. The twin sets led to shots down the field that he converted on at a high clip.

There is always learning to do for a true freshman quarterback when arriving on campus, but he may be thrust into the second-string role with Joe Milton III's lack of eligibility and Gaston Moore's impending decision.

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