Miami Hurricanes DB commit Timothy Merritt ‘wants to show he’s one of the top, top corners in the nation’

Birmingham (Ala.) Parker three-star defensive back Timothy Merritt has done it all in his three years of high school: taken snaps at quarterback, lined up at receiver, locked down opposing wideouts at cornerback and intercepted passes as a safety. But the 6-foot-1, 175-pound safety and cornerback hybrid is gearing up for his biggest season yet.

Merritt, who committed to Miami in June shortly after his official visit to Coral Gables, has heard Parker head coach Frank Warren preach for years he has a special talent and needs to ensure he gets the most out of his abilities. So Warren wants to see Merritt turn from an elite, versatile player with interest from Power Conference programs to one of the undoubted best defensive backs in the country.

“Just taking over games,” Warren said about his expectation for Merritt heading into his senior season. “Not giving up big plays. At cornerback, you have to have a short (memory). But being that type of guy, he hates giving up big plays. He didn’t go to a lot of camps, but he wants to show he’s one of the top, top corners in the nation.”

Merritt will line up at cornerback, safety and occasionally quarterback for Parker this fall, although Warren said he wants to reserve using him at quarterback for “where we really need it.” But Merritt also has “that swagger and leadership that people will follow” paired with a tremendous football IQ.

“It’s him just being that vocal leader in the secondary and making sure that people do things the right way,” Warren said. “… He’s one of those versatile players where you can put him anywhere in the secondary, and I think that’s what will make him special at the next level. He can play slot, he can play free safety or he can play corner. He’s a smart individual and understands the positions and knows what he has to do.”

However, part of elevating his game to the next level includes turning pass deflections into interceptions and interceptions into pick-sixes.

“I think it’s finishing plays and (creating) more turnovers,” Warren said. “He’ll be there, he’ll knock it down, but I told him, ‘I want you to go take it to the house.’ I think he’s been doing that so far during the summer.”

Merritt will graduate this fall and early enroll at Miami in January, his coach said, and is locked in with the Hurricanes.

CaneSport’s Take

Merritt likely projects best as a safety at the college level, but we expect Miami to give him an opportunity to play cornerback too. He should have an opportunity to develop into a four-star prospect this fall with a strong senior year.

The post Miami Hurricanes DB commit Timothy Merritt ‘wants to show he’s one of the top, top corners in the nation’ appeared first on On3 .