4-star LB Dawson Merritt announces his Top 10 schools

Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley linebacker Dawson Merritt has over two dozen offers, but after taking multiple visits in the fall, a couple in January and one in March, the four-star has trimmed his list to 10 schools.

Alabama, Florida State, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and USC made the cut. Now the No. 86 prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking is working toward a decision later this summer.

“I am not going to rush things, but I would like to be committed before my first game,” Merritt told On3. “I am going to take some spring visits, then the official visits in the summer and try to make my decision sometime between July and early September. That is my plan.”

Before Merritt can get to that point, he needs to take visits. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound defender has a busy March and April coming up. He visited Missouri on March 6 and visits to Ole Miss on March 21 and Alabama on March 23 are still to come this month. Then he heads to Oklahoma on April 8 and Nebraska on April 13.

Each visit is important to Merritt.

“Phone calls are nice and I have some great relationships with coaches, but these spring visits are huge for me. I will get to learn about the coaches, see their coaching styles in practice and really get a good look at how they work. Nothing can be fake about that, so I am really excited to get out, see these different schools and learn more about these schools on my list.”

Spring visits will help determine who gets official visits from Merritt

Heading into the spring, the No. 16 linebacker in the country has a top 10. It came down to relationships and now Merritt is working on putting the final touches on his official visits for the summer.

“Relationships were a huge part of me putting the schools into my top 10,” Merrit said. “That will be big for me in the future too. Communication with these schools is at least a couple of times a week and that, combined with schools I feel I can win at important to me.

“I have scheduled official visits with Missouri on June 7, Nebraska on June 14 and Oklahoma on June 21 and as I get on these spring visits, I will be locking in more. My plan is to take four or five official visits, then work on making my decision.”

That leaves about two or three open spot for official visits for Merritt. He is expected to decide on who gets those later this spring.

“I am still figuring things out with those last official visits. These spring visits will be important. I will be evaluating the city, the schools, the coaches and things like that. I know the relationships are there, so when I get on campus this spring, that will show me a lot more.”

Nebraska and Oklahoma will get official visits from Merritt

Missouri: “Everyone at Missouri really feels like family. When I went there, I was one of the only recruits and they treated me like family which just really showed me how much they value me. I had a great time. My mom loved it too. I have good relationships with Coach DJ Smith and Maurey Bland.”

Nebraska: “I have really good relationships with the staff there. I have good relationships with Coach Rob Dvoracek and Coach Evan Cooper. I have really bought into what Coach Matt Rhule says and what his vision is for Nebraska too. When I get out there, I want to explore Lincoln more, learn more about the city and the program on my visits there.”

Oklahoma: “I speak with Coach Miguel Chavis and Coach Brent Venables a lot. I like both of them a lot. Coach Chavis is a high-energy guy, I love talking to him and I would love to play for a guy like him. When we talk, I talk to his kids a lot and we just have good relationship. With Coach Venables, I love his vision. I see Oklahoma being super-successful in the coming years. Another intriguing thing about Oklahoma is their moving to the SEC. It would allow me to play against top competition.”

Alabama is another school that intrigues Merritt

Merritt has not tripped to Tuscaloosa yet. That is coming soon. He does have a good relationship with the new head coach at Alabama.

“I am super-excited about getting to Alabama,” Merritt said. “Washington was one of my first big offers. I think they were the fourth or fifth school to offer me, so I have been talking with Coach Kalen DeBoer for a while now. Coach DeBoer is a winner, I believe what he says and there is evidence that he knows how to win.”

Since being hired as the new linebackers coach, Christian Robinson has been in contact with Merritt too. The linebacker target complimented Robinson calling him a “great guy” and saying he “enjoys” talking to him.