Sean Merrill

99

Class: Senior Hometown: D'lberville, Miss. Last College: Mississippi Gulf Coast CC

Height / Weight: 6-3 / 280 Position: DL Birthdate: 03/12/1984 Experience: JC

Returns for his second year as the starter at the nose tackle position on the defensive line ... A big, physical lineman who is a good run stopper ...Worked hard in the offseason ... Counted on by the coaching staff to provide leadership ... Dean's List ... Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll ... 2007 Preseason Honors: Named All-Conference USA by Phil Steele's (second team) ... Named No. 53 on top 60 defensive tackles in the nation by Phil Steele's ... 2006 (Jr.): Played in 12 games at the nose tackle position on the defensive line ... Made 11 starts ... Missed two games with an ankle sprain ... Participated in 309 total snaps, all on defense ... Recorded 24 tackles, including 12 unassisted, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a pass breakup ... Tallied season-high four tackles against UAB (11/18) ... Junior College: Started the 2005 season at MGCCC for Head Coach Steve Campbell ... Named Defensive MVP in the Dalton Defenders Bowl in Kansas ... Named MVP defensive lineman in the South Division by the MACJC ... Named first team All State and All-Conference in 2005 ... Prep: Played for Coach Louis Smith at D'Iberville HS ... Finished with 93 tackles and 19 sacks as a senior, earning MPSA 4-A Defensive MVP honors and First Team 4-A All-State honors ... Added five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and seven pass deflections, helping D'Iberville to a 13-1 mark and the 4-A state title as a senior ... Added 85 tackles and 14 sacks as a junior and 75 tackles and 12 sacks as a sophomore ... Finished his career with 46 sacks ... Two-time first team All-State and three-time first team All-Gulf Coast ... Also won first place in the south state championship power lifting meet ... Lettered two years in power lifting and one in golf ... Ranked as the No. 6 defensive tackle by ESPN.com and ranked as the No. 24 defensive lineman by CollegeFootballNews.com ... Member of the Rivals 100, Orlando Sentinel All-Southern Team and Fox Sports Net South's Countdown to Signing Day "All-South" Second Team ... Personal: Son of Louis and Charlotte Smith ... Majoring in coaching and sport administration ... Born March 12, 1984.