Tennessee football has officially added a quarterback to the Class of 2024 as Jake Merklinger signs with the Vols on signing day.Tennessee football officially added a quarterback to the 2024 recruiting class Wednesday morning, signing four-star Jake Merklinger from Calvary Day School in Savannah, Ga. Merklinger committed to the Vols on March 30, along with other finalists Georgia, Michigan State and In-State. North Carolina.Merklinger, who received a scholarship from the Vols in May 2022 and has been one of their top quarterback targets for months, is the 129th and 10th quarterback and 18th senior in the 2024 class. Industry-wise, according to Georgia State’s 247Sports Composite. Heand#039;s also ranked as a four-star prospect by 247Sports, where heand#039;s rated the No. 221 overall player and No. 13 quarterback in the class of 2024.The 6-foot-3, 195-pound gun returned to Tennessee in November to follow the Vols host No. 1 Georgia, who was in his final game at Neyland Stadium as a recruit. He told GoVols247 recruiting analyst Ryan Callahan at the time that he enjoyed the trip to Knoxville and is looking forward to getting an early start on his college career by participating in some bowl practices on UTand#039’s campus earlier this month. registration in January.”I’m very happy to come here,” said Merklinger. andquot;It was really exciting to come back here and see the crazy atmosphere and come back to Knoxville. It was a tough game. It’s a good team. When I talk to the coaches, I believe in them. I think they’ll bounce back and we’ll be good.”Merklinger said he’s still excited about the direction of Tennessee’s program and the opportunity to play in the Vols’ fast-paced offense.”I feel good, ” “I think it is with my very similar crime, so I think it will help me when I come here. I’m just happy to come here. Their offense has always been fun to watch, explosive, and I think they’re really good.”Merklinger admitted earlier this year before making his college decision that he “was stressed, but now I’m not.” He said he knew he was “coming to Tennessee” and spent most of his time in recent weeks focusing on his Calvary team’s playoff run.The Cavaliers ended their season Friday night with a 49-42 loss at Cedar Grove High School in Ellenwood, Ga. Attended by Tennessee offensive coordinator Joey Halzle and first-year coach Alec Abeln, Merklinger was 21 of 29 passing for 275 yards and five touchdowns and also ran for a 22-yard touchdown with 4:16 left, according to the Savannah Morning .News.The only quarterback in Tennessee’s 2024 recruiting class, Merklinger accepted an invitation to play in the Polynesian Bowl in Honolulu on January 19, 4,444..