Nebraska has added a commitment from Stillwell (Kan.) Blue Valley Top247 linebacker Dawson Merritt, who was committed to Alabama but had visited the Huskers several times, including following his Crimson Tide verbal. Here is everything you need to know.
WHAT DAWSON MERRITT SAYS ABOUT NEBRASKA
Merritt took an official with Nebraska in the summer and has been around the staff quite a bit. He returned for the Colorado game earlier this fall, which was a sign to him of what was happening in Lincoln under Matt Rhule.
“I want to be a part of building something special. The relationships I have at Nebraska are on a different level. I also see this place as a huge way to grow in my faith,” he said.
After attending that Colorado game, Merritt told Husker247’s Mike Schaefer: “It was crazy. That was probably the craziest game I’ve ever been to personally, including (Kansas City) Chiefs games. The difference between going to a Nebraska game and a normal game is, if you’re blowing a team out, usually the fans calm down. Fans at Nebraska are getting louder in third and fourth quarter. It’s just electric there. Then there’s the team. They really do give off the vibe they are going to turn the program around.”
He has also talked about the way Tony White‘s defense plays and his fit within that system.
WHO ELSE WAS IN THE MIX?
As of this commitment, it was ‘Bama and Nebraska in consideration. Oklahoma was in the mix previously and Michigan, Kansas, Kansas State, Florida State, USC and Washington, among others, had offered.
WHERE DAWSON MERRITT RANKS AS A RECRUIT
Merritt is the No. 85 overall recruit in his class, and the No. 5 linebacker per 247Sports. That is higher than the industry-generated 247Sports Composite which has him No. 116 and the No. 13 linebacker. Both metrics have him the No. 4 senior in Kansas.
HOW DAWSON MERRITT FITS WITH NEBRASKA
Merritt was going to play WOLF at Alabama, a hybrid position which Nebraska has a version of in their JACK spot. So Merritt projects there first, but he is so versatile and football savvy that he could also play inside or move around. He has shown ability in space and as an edge-rusher, so he can suit different roles in different packages.
Within the class, there is now Merritt, Christian Jones and Pierce Mooberry, so a talented group and we see Merritt as the most versatile within that class of three.
WHAT WE THINK ABOUT DAWSON MERRITT
Merritt has played at a very good high school program, been very productive, and played multiple roles at BV. He is also the son of a former NFL player and current NFL coach (Dave Merritt of the Chiefs) and that shows up with Merritt’s feel for the game and smarts, which helps him be able to play multiple roles.
He is long and has plenty of room to fill in. He still needs to keep doing that and get stronger. But he is very good in space, can cover, but can also line up on the end of the line and rush the passer.
He will give Nebraska a lot of options and will have to be a player offenses account for because he might beat your tackle for a sack or he may jump a route and intercept a pass and that makes him a valuable chess piece.
Symbolically, this staff continuing to chip away and flipping a recruit from ‘Bama is obviously a major recruiting victory and with Dylan Raiola last year and Malachi Coleman also the year before and several others, it is clear Rhule and his staff are capable of consistently doing this.
