Tyler Merrill is the No. 1 offensive guard within the 2026 class. The Cumberland Valley Excessive College (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) standout additionally ranks No. 3 in Pennsylvania and No. 91 total prospect within the Rivals250 cycle.
As Merrill started his junior season with the Eagles, he spent a while speaking to opponents about his recruitment.
In June, Merrill paid an unofficial go to to Wisconsin. Most lately, he visited Notre Dame in late July for the Combating Irish’s “Grill and Chill” occasion and traveled to Michigan to expertise the Wolverines’ Large Home BBQ weekend.
Merrill loved his time within the South Bend space and visited the Combating Irish on a number of unofficial visits throughout his recruitment.
“It was superior,” Merrill stated of the current journey to Notre Dame. “It was only a picnic, there have been some video games and I had some assist from among the employees. It was a good time. I have been there 4 or 5 instances.”
Merrill continues to be in fixed communication with the Notre Dame teaching employees, together with the top coach Marcus Freemanoffensive line coach Joe Rudolph and different coaches.
“I have been in communication with a lot of the employees,” Merrill stated of the Battle of Eire. “I used to be on the telephone with Coach Freeman and among the recruiting employees someday simply to speak and speak in regards to the upcoming video games and the way the season goes. I might say the relationships I’ve there are fairly sturdy and we simply proceed to construct on them day-after-day. .
Merrill can also be excited to go to Wisconsin and Michigan. He developed a relationship with the College of Washington head coach Luke Fickell and offensive line coach. AJ Blazekwait. He additionally developed a detailed relationship with the top coach on the College of Michigan Sherron Mooreoffensive line coach Grant Newsome and the Badgers.
“I feel all three guys are actually good,” Merrill stated of his summer time go to. “In Wisconsin, we did a scavenger hunt round Madison. In Michigan, we did the Large Home BBQ, and each have been nice experiences.”
The four-star offensive line recruit talked about that each one three faculties made him really feel like he was on the high of his recruiting committee.
“I really feel like each place I have been treats me as a precedence,” Merrill famous.
Whereas Michigan, Notre Dame and Wisconsin are all closely pursuing Merrill — and he has developed sturdy relationships with every faculty — it is too early to name them the front-runners in recruiting.
He additionally earned levels from the College of Alabama, Auburn College, Boston School, Clemson College, Duke College, Iowa State College, College of Kentucky, Michigan State College, MSU, Nebraska Extra scholarships from faculties, Ohio State, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, West Virginia.
As of now, he’s open to all tasks that curiosity him.
The following step for Merrill and his household was to sit down down and make plans for his or her fall go to.
“Proper now, I haven’t got any particular faculties which are greater than others,” Merrill defined. “I am centered on my season and the group’s, however my household and I are taking a look at narrowing it down after the season ends.”
Merrill’s present plan is to attend till the offseason, possible someday between November and February, and talk about it together with his household earlier than narrowing down the sphere of contenders.
As talked about above, Merrill, who’s about 6-foot-6, 315 kilos, is rated as the highest linebacker within the 2026 class, however he additionally figures to have a number of positions and may play sort out when wanted. He is a slugger who will aggressively take defenders out of the sport, however he additionally has nice athleticism and robust expertise that make him such a coveted recruit.
Nonetheless, he nonetheless has issues he needs to get higher at when he enters faculty, and a training employees that may correctly develop him on the subsequent stage shall be a key think about his eventual dedication.
“I might say it is a hybrid (between guard and sort out),” Merrill stated of his positional projection. “I am prepared to play wherever I am wanted. I have been instructed I’ve the power of a defender and the size to sort out, so it will depend on the place my group wants me. I might describe my taking part in model as ” Overwhelmed,” however I consider I have already got the uncooked power to carry out properly within the faculty weight room, and it reveals within the working sport how my power pertains to the man throughout from me, so I consider that’s my power. Favorable play model.
“Nonetheless, there are 1,000,000 issues to enhance on, and my (faculty) choice will come right down to who can greatest assist me enhance, in addition to deal with me and my household all through the method.”
Along with his efficiency on the sphere, Merrill is seeking to be a pacesetter for the Eagles within the locker room this season.
“At this level, it is much less about studying the sport and extra about studying the way to be a pacesetter on a group as a result of the final two years in faculty have been constructing confidence and now it is about utilizing what you’ve got discovered to show different folks, That means your group can win,” he stated when requested about his objectives for his junior yr.
As for potential dedication dates, Merrill Lynch can also be in no rush. He plans to take an official go to subsequent summer time earlier than making a choice.
He has loads of time to plan his future plans. Merrill’s focus proper now’s easy: concentrate on the 2024 season and serving to Cumberland Valley obtain its objectives.
“I am simply completely satisfied to win with my guys,” Merrill stated.
