veteran, versatile, and quietly one of Chattanooga’s most reliable trench anchors
Merklinger is a strong fit for teams that value experience, versatility, and academic maturity: the 6-foot-4, 320-pound lineman joined Chattanooga in January 2025 after starting all 23 games at Western Illinois in 2023 and 2024, working at both center and tackle and earning Missouri Valley Conference All-Academic and 2025 All-SoCon honors. In 2025, he was described as a leader on a Mocs line that helped power a run game averaging more than 270 rushing yards per game over a four-game stretch, which tells you he brings real edge, not just size. He’s the kind of plug-and-play OL who raises a room fast.
