2026 Notre Dame OL Signee Tyler Merrill Ready To Hit Ground Running
Tyler Merrill had been committed to Notre Dame for almost a year, but the moment finally became real once pen met paper on National Signing Day a few weeks back.
“It feels good, man,” Merrill told Irish Sports Daily.
The 2026 Pennsylvania offensive lineman said Signing Day itself came and went quietly, fitting for the way he has approached the process.
“It was good,” he said. “Very low key. It was great. I got to see everyone and it was a good little final sendoff to end my senior year. So it was cool.”
Merrill’s fellow 2026 offensive line signee Greg Patrick described signing as the end of a chapter in high school football.
“That’s exactly what it was like,” Merrill said. “It was great.”
The Cumberland Valley High School standout is coming off shoulder surgery after playing through the injury during his senior season.
“I had a labrum issue,” he said. “It’s been torn for a while and I was just playing through it. I got surgery on it early-November after the season just to get it out of the way so I don’t have to worry about it during spring.”
The recovery process has been steady for the 6-foot-5, 338-pounder.
“It’s been PT and recovery, rest, just trying to get as healthy as possible before I get there,” Merrill said. “The people in South Bend are amazing, so they’ll take care of me.”
Merrill expects to be ready by spring practice.
“Oh, for sure,” he said. “That’s the plan. I’m about halfway through now, but I’ve got full faith and trust in the people up there. I’ll be good to go eventually, at least by summer.”
His focus has shifted toward what comes next now that his recruitment is complete.
“Now it’s just recovery and being prepared for daily life in South Bend,” Merrill said. “I’m just preparing for that, spending time with family and enjoying Christmas because I know the next four years or so are going to be pretty loaded during the holidays.”
Merrill will arrive at Notre Dame as an early enrollee, a move he believes will help him acclimate quickly.
“Just hitting the ground running,” he said. “Getting a head start and being able to graduate in three and a half years. I feel like that’ll help propel me in the future, whether that’s football or just regular everyday career stuff.”
He said making those adjustments is part of what appeals to him about enrolling early.
“I think it shows you how to be disciplined in a time of stress,” Merrill said. “You get dropped in a new spot, but I think that’s the best way to learn. That’s how I learned most of my football career.”
As for communication with the coaching staff, Merrill said the message so far has been straightforward.
“Nothing much yet,” he said. “I’m sure they’ll tell me more when I’m there. But it’s really just been, ‘Go spend time with your family.’ The schemes and playbook stuff will be there.”
The next couple weeks are as much about mental preparation as physical.
“They really just want us to be with our families. Before we have to leave, before responsibilities start picking up and you kind of see what’s next.”
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