Tyler Merrill is the No. 1 offensive guard in the 2026 class. The Cumberland Valley High School (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) standout also ranks No. 3 in Pennsylvania and No. 91 overall prospect in the Rivals250 cycle.
As Merrill began his junior season with the Eagles, he spent some time talking to opponents about his recruitment.
In June, Merrill paid an unofficial visit to Wisconsin. Most recently, he visited Notre Dame in late July for the Fighting Irish’s “Grill and Chill” event and traveled to Michigan to experience the Wolverines’ Big House BBQ weekend.
Merrill enjoyed his time in the South Bend area and visited the Fighting Irish on several unofficial visits during his recruitment.
“It was awesome,” Merrill said of the recent trip to Notre Dame. “It was just a picnic, there were some games and I had some help from some of the staff. It was a great time. I’ve been there four or five times.”
Merrill continues to be in constant communication with the Notre Dame coaching staff, including the head coach Marcus Freemanoffensive line coach Joe Rudolph and other coaches.
“I’ve been in communication with most of the staff,” Merrill said of the Battle of Ireland. “I was on the phone with Coach Freeman and some of the recruiting staff one day just to chat and talk about the upcoming games and how the season is going. I would say the relationships I have there are pretty strong and we just continue to build on them every day. .
Merrill is also excited to visit Wisconsin and Michigan. He developed a relationship with the University of Washington head coach Luke Fickell and offensive line coach. AJ Blazekwait. He also developed a close relationship with the head coach at the University of Michigan Sherron Mooreoffensive line coach Grant Newsome and the Badgers.
“I think all three guys are really good,” Merrill said of his summer visit. “In Wisconsin, we did a scavenger hunt around Madison. In Michigan, we did the Big House BBQ, and both were great experiences.”
The four-star offensive line recruit mentioned that all three schools made him feel like he was at the top of his recruiting committee.
“I feel like every place I’ve been treats me as a priority,” Merrill noted.
While Michigan, Notre Dame and Wisconsin are all heavily pursuing Merrill — and he has developed strong relationships with each school — it’s too early to call them the front-runners in recruiting.
He also earned degrees from the University of Alabama, Auburn University, Boston College, Clemson University, Duke University, Iowa State University, University of Kentucky, Michigan State University, MSU, Nebraska Additional scholarships from colleges, Ohio State, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, West Virginia.
As of now, he is open to all projects that interest him.
The next step is for Merrill and his family to sit down and make plans for their fall visit.
“Right now, I don’t have any specific schools that are higher than others,” Merrill explained. “I’m focused on my season and the team’s, but my family and I are looking at narrowing it down after the season ends.”
Merrill’s current plan is to wait until the offseason, likely sometime between November and February, and discuss it with his family before narrowing down the field of contenders.
As mentioned above, Merrill, who is about 6-foot-6, 315 pounds, is rated as the top linebacker in the 2026 class, but he also figures to have multiple positions and can play tackle when needed. He’s a slugger who will aggressively take defenders out of the game, but he also has great athleticism and strong skills that make him such a coveted recruit.
Still, he still has things he wants to get better at when he enters college, and a coaching staff that can properly develop him at the next level will be a key factor in his eventual commitment.
“I’d say it’s a hybrid (between guard and tackle),” Merrill said of his positional projection. “I’m willing to play wherever I’m needed. I’ve been told I have the strength of a defender and the length to tackle, so it depends on where my team needs me. I would describe my playing style as ” Beaten,” but I believe I already have the raw strength to perform well in the college weight room, and it shows in the running game how my strength relates to the guy across from me, so I believe that’s my strength. Favorable play style.
“Still, there are a million things to improve on, and my (college) decision will come down to who can best help me improve, as well as take care of me and my family throughout the process.”
In addition to his performance on the field, Merrill is looking to be a leader for the Eagles in the locker room this season.
“At this point, it’s less about learning the game and more about learning how to be a leader on a team because the last two years in college have been building confidence and now it’s about using what you’ve learned to teach other people, That way your team can win,” he said when asked about his goals for his junior year.
As for potential commitment dates, Merrill Lynch is also in no rush. He plans to take an official visit next summer before making a decision.
He has plenty of time to plan his future plans. Merrill’s focus right now is simple: focus on the 2024 season and helping Cumberland Valley achieve its goals.
“I’m just happy to win with my guys,” Merrill said.
