Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MARCH 2025 87 BY MIKE SINGER Mechanicsburg (Pa.) Cumberland Valley class of 2026 interior offensive lineman Tyler Merrill announced his commitment to Notre Dame football during a live stream with On3 Jan. 30. "It's been a long journey that I've been blessed to have experienced, but I've re- cently found where I belong," Merrill said live when making his decision public. "I'm excited to announce that I'll be com- mitting to the University of Notre Dame." Merrill, who stands at a reported 6-5, 330 pounds, visited Notre Dame for the staff's big junior day recruiting event Jan. 25. Near the end of his visit, the four-star prospect informed Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman of his decision to commit. "To me, it was about the people," Merrill told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "The people there are a perfect fit for me to be successful at the next level." This is a big get for the Irish — Mer- rill is the nation's No. 5 interior offensive lineman and No. 72 overall player accord- ing to On3. He held offers from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas A&M and others. "I feel like I can be myself around peo- ple that want the best out of me," Merrill told On3's Steve Wiltfong. "I think ev- eryone in that program exemplifies the frame of mind of being a kind person, be- ing humble, being hungry, striving for the best but still maintaining that demeanor. "Coach Freeman had that throughout that national title run and his success on the field." His late-January trip marked Merrill's fifth visit to South Bend. He made it to campus twice in 2023 and returned for a spring practice and late July visit a year ago. While BGI believed he was an Irish lean last summer, this will still be con- sidered a mild upset, considering he's a Pennsylvania kid who reportedly visited Penn State 10 times. Merrill is very impressed with the Fighting Irish coaching staff. "I can't say enough good things about them," he previously told BGI following a campus visit. "Notre Dame just felt really welcoming. It didn't feel like a place where I had to worry about fitting in or meeting anyone's expectations. I clicked, which was really nice. "Throughout the year, on every visit, they made sure just to let me know, 'You're still our top guy. We still love you. We're not going to bug you every week and call you. But they called me before games. They called me before the national championship, which was awe- some. They did all the little things to let me know I'm still a priority for them." Merrill is Notre Dame's third of- fensive line commitment of the 2026 class, joining Davison (Mich.) High's Ben Nichols and Allegan (Mich.) High's Sullivan Garvin. All three of these pros- pects project as interior players for the Irish. Merrill becomes Notre Dame's seventh commitment in total and is now the highest-ranked player in the Irish's class per the On3 Industry Ranking. "At Notre Dame, it was the people who stood out to me," Merrill added. "I want to surround myself with people who I know will make me better. … They checked the boxes for me. It's not too close to home, but it's definitely worth it for the high education and winning football program." Merrill was named to the 2024 PA- Footballnews.com Coaches Select Class 6A All-State first-team and PennLive's 2024 All-Star team. "He is larger than life," Cumberland Valley head coach Josh Oswalt said. "He's literally, physically larger than life. He's an unbelievable presence. So- cially, he is not a mute. He is a jovial, big kid who loves to work hard but also loves to joke around. But when he gets on the field, he'll rip your face off." ✦ COMMITMENT PROFILE TYLER MERRILL Merrill, the nation's No. 5 interior offensive lineman and No. 72 overall player per On3, committed to Notre Dame over Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Texas A&M. PHOTO COURTESY ON3 Elite 2026 Lineman Picks Irish Over Big-Time Programs FILM ANALYSIS "Tyler Merrill is an absolute road grader as a run blocker. Going into his junior season, we felt that he was one of the better run blocking offensive linemen in the 2026 cycle, and he has continued to show that. "For starters, he's extremely powerful and has a barrel-chested build. Merrill has big hands, outstand- ing grip strength and punch. Once he gets his hands on a defensive lineman, he shows the ability to manipulate them to his will. He certainly projects as an interior guy at the next level when you look at his strengths as a player and his physical dimensions. He's an ideal fit at guard. I really like this pickup for Notre Dame. "Notre Dame has really recruited tackle particularly well the last few cycles, and adding Merrill to the mix gives them an explosive, physical presence at guard. He's a guy we've always liked off of his film; he has the physicality and nastiness that you like to see on the interior. "I'm not surprised that Notre Dame lands a top offensive lineman like Merrill, and he complements the talent they've brought in the last few cycles from a positional fit perspective. He helps replenish the talent level on the interior and fits what Notre Dame likes." — On3 director of scouting and rankings Charles Power