There will be five Tennessee Volunteers that signed to play in the Polynesian Bowl.
For Tennessee supporters, the Polynesian Bowl has played a significant role in the yearly recruitment process. Nico Iamaleava, a five-star quarterback for 2023, participated in the game before leaving for Knoxville, Tennessee, in January to train and attend classes with the team. Currently, Tennessee has several All-Americans and five 2024 signees attending the game.
Four-star quarterback Jake Merklinger, four-star offensive tackle Bennett Warren, four-star inside linebacker Edwin Spillman, five-star wide receiver Mike Matthews, and five-star edge rusher Jordan Ross are all present and working out during the week. Despite having already competed in earlier All-American competitions, Ross, Matthews, and Warren made the decision to travel to Honolulu, Hawaii.
The coaching staff hasn’t been able to locate a quarterback in the transfer portal who is willing to sit behind Iamaleava, therefore Merklinger is expected to be the backup quarterback for the upcoming season. Spillman, on the other hand, was a lifelong Tennessee supporter who favored the Vols over Ohio State. He attended Lipscomb Academy, where he was a part of a successful program, and in high school, he shown several qualities that Tennessee’s defense could use. The Vols have many reasons to be optimistic about what the Polynesian Bowl has to offer.
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