While Tennessee’s matchup against South Carolina wasn’t quite the Vols’ Super Bowl as Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler suggested, it was an enjoyable win for Tennessee’s entire fanbase after last season’s upset loss in Columbia.
Besides the Tennessee fans living in the Palmetto State, there may not have been anyone who enjoyed the 41-20 victory more than Vols quarterback commit Jake Merklinger.
Merklinger won a bet with Calvary Day School teammate and South Carolina commit Michael Smith which led to Smith donning all Tennessee gear Wednesday.
A bet is a bet @ayeemikee1_ #GBO pic.twitter.com/7SFQpYROQn
— Jake Merklinger (@JakeMerklinger) October 4, 2023
Bets like Merkingler and Smith’s are common in the NFL for conference rivalry games but not as common in high school largely due to how rare it is to have two SEC commits at one high school.
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Merklinger was one of Tennessee’s first major wins in the 2024 recruiting class when he committed to Josh Heupel and his staff back in March.
The 6-foot-3, 195 pound quarterback ranks as a four-star recruit and the No. 99 player in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. Merklinger also ranks as the eighth best quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class and 14th best player in the state of Georgia.
The tight end Smith committed to South Carolina all the way back in January and is one of the top commits in the Gamecocks’ recruiting class. Smith ranks as a four-star recruit and the No. 128 player in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings.
Calvary Day School is 6-0 this season while averaging 51.5 points per game and scoring at least 41 points in every game this season.
