Merrill’s been the offensive bellcow for the 91 Shock for quite a few years and he’s as dynamic an offensive midfielder as there is in the class. A 6-1, 170-pounder with long strides, Merrill has a quick first step and is a major scoring threat down the alley. He packs a powerful shot and is a terrific dodger. By the end of his sophomore year, Merrill was running on the second midfield line for the Friars and tallied goals against Connecticut powerhouses Darien and Staples. An NLF at IMG All-Star and the reigning summer One Percent All-Star Game Offensive MVP, Merrill has gamebreaker potential in any game he plays.

“His best asset is that he’s such a fierce competitor,” one assistant coach at a top-10 program said. “He likes to compete.”

Merrill worked his way onto St. Anthony’s’ second midfield line as a sophomore, no small task for a team that was in the national top 3 all year. He projects to potentially be the Friars’ best offensive player next spring, and he’ll likely have an ACC commitment to his name way before then.