Tennessee quarterbacks Jake Merklinger, George MacIntyre talk Nico Iamaleava fallout

What redshirt freshman quarterback Jake Merklinger and freshman quarterback George MacIntyre said during their press conference after Tennessee’s Orange & White Game on Saturday, discussing the departure of Nico Iamaleava on Friday:

George MacIntyre

If there were any nerves added after Nico Iamaleava’s departure

“I don’t think so. Whatever amount of reps they gave me, I was just going to do the best I could with them.”

His transition to college football, how his spring went

“It was definitely different adjusting to college schedule and then, in the game, adjusting to college speed. I think every practice I tried to pick out one thing to really be intentional about and get better at, and I feel like I did a good job of that.”

Tennessee fans on social media rallying behind he and Jake Merklinger

“For me, as an in-state kid, there’s always talk about just all this quarterback stuff. And, for me, it was a dream come true to run out of the ‘T’ today. That was a cool feeling and, after that, just try to do what I can.”

When he realized Nico Iamaleava wouldn’t be at practice Friday morning 

“I didn’t have any feeling about it. I don’t know about Jake, but, yeah. We found out the same time everyone else did.”

Jake Merklinger

If Nico Iamaleava being gone added any nerves for him going into the Orange & White Game

“No, sir, there wasn’t. We were going to get the same amount of reps in the spring game regardless, so no added pressure.”

How the loss of Nico Iamaleava changes how he looks at the summer offseason

“I don’t think it does. Like I said in the last quote, approach every day like you’re the starter, keep working hard and just try to be the best version of yourself.”

If that mindset prepared him to be the leader of the Tennessee quarterback room

“I think it prepared me really well. Coach (Joey) Halzle, Coach Jared (Peery), Coach Landry (Jones), they do a great job of keeping me prepared. Any advice I can get, I go to them, so they’ve done a really good job.”

Nico Iamaleava going to Tennessee’s quarterback dinner Thursday night, then not showing at practice Friday morning

“That dinner had been planned for a while. We do that every year, Thursday before the spring game. Went in, dinner was normal. Everybody enjoyed it. Had great food. Thank you, Miss Cara Halzle, (she) took care of us with some really good tacos.”

George MacIntyre going through spring as a freshman

“As far as George, man, he played really, really well today. He’s done a really good job all spring. He’s like a sponge. Anything he can learn, he can learn. He’s always up in the quarterback room watching film. So, yeah, he’s done a really good job.”

Tennessee fans on social media getting behind the two quarterbacks left after Nico Iamaleava’s departure

“I try to stay off of social media. I haven’t really been on it at all. But no, it means a lot. I appreciate Vol Nation for supporting us.”

If he thought Nico Iamaleava might not be at practice, when he realized he wouldn’t be there at all

“Like (MacIntyre) said, found out at the same time everyone else did. But I don’t think it changed either way we thought. We were going to practice on Friday to practice on Friday. We went to practice and we practiced, so I don’t know, I don’t think it changed.”

Having a veteran like senior tight end Miles Kitselman to help lead Tennessee’s offense through adversity

“I came in at the same time as him last year when he transferred, so our relationship’s really good. I see him as a big brother. He’s been really good to me. But, you know, it’s also a relationship where we can push each other in the weight room, whatever that is. So, you know, just knowing guys like Miles have our back, it means a lot.”