2026 OL Tyler Merrill Talks Notre Dame, Possible Return & More

Tyler Merrill‍ is already looking to expand his game, which is why the 6-foot-6, 332-pounder has been working just as hard on the mental part of his game as the physical part this season.

“The physicality can always be tweaked and whatnot and improved, but I think the biggest thing I'm proud of myself for improving on is film study and football IQ overall,” the 2026 Pennsylvania offensive lineman told Irish Sports Daily this week. “I definitely put a lot more into my preparation and watching film and taking notes this year than I have in past years. Learning more about the game every day I felt like was important this year. 

“It isn't all about the brawn. You've got to get some brains into it too. I'm definitely proud of myself for that. Obviously as the game grows, you grow as well as you get older, so just becoming smoother and transitions and running and passing and plays and all that. I feel like all that kind of falls into place too. I think really you've just got to focus on making yourself better mentally so you can be better physically. I feel like those have really been my best improvements; the mental aspects and the physical aspects kind of follow.”

Merrill has been a national prospect for a while now with offers from schools like Notre Dame, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State and Wisconsin among several others. 

So far this season, he’s been to games at Michigan and Clemson.

“I think every place has their own unique atmosphere,” said Merrill, who made multiple trips to South Bend before the season. “I can't really say one place is better than the other because every place has their own little unique, intrinsic thing. 

“Michigan was very hospitable, great people. Honestly, I don't want to compare, but they have a very similar culture to Notre Dame, which is obviously something I'm interested in. It's definitely something I look into when evaluating schools. The usual. 

“Clemson, an ACC Southern School, my first game day, first taste of the South in the fall, which was also great. They have their own thing going on there and they're doing pretty well for themselves. I appreciate both places that are recruiting me right now. I'm just excited to get after it.”

Merrill is planning trips to Penn State and Alabama later this season and still has his eyes on a possible return to South Bend.

“I'm really trying to see if I can squeeze in a Notre Dame game there,” he said. “I heard Florida State is happening towards the evening, and I feel like that'd be the best opportunity to go. I'll have to talk with my people back at home, see what works, what doesn't. But I definitely will try to get back there one more time before this season ends here.”

The Nov. 9th matchup against the Seminoles being a night game makes the travel easier for Merrill and his family.

“ We can make games, but I'd have to miss the first quarter,” he said. “That's why the evening games are better for me and my family.

“(The late start) is perfect because it takes about eight hours for us to get there. If we leave early in the morning around seven, we'll get there way before kickoff and we'll get to enjoy the whole recruiting experience and still be able to watch the full game. I'm definitely thinking about coming back for the Florida State game.”

His previous trips have helped boost the Irish up his list and now he’s looking forward to digging in even deeper.

“I feel like I've gotten to see lots of the facilities and locker room and all that,” he said. “I want to start building more relationships with coaches and other recruits there, maybe even players. I definitely want to try to get myself more involved in what's going on there besides the facilities. Every place is going to have the nice things, but what's your relationship with the coaches? 

“I want to get talking more ball like, 'Hey, what's the schematics look like? Are you guys more run heavy, pass heavy? What type of blocks am I going to be looking for in this offense?' Stuff like that, kind of getting into the deeper level of Notre Dame football. It'd be great to just get back there and see my people.”

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