You can’t cry over spilled Gatorade, and Marcus Freeman knows it. Following the heartbreaking loss in last week’s title game, he wasted no time in turning things around. His offensive line faced difficulties during crucial moments, and he is determined to prevent that from happening again. Even with the 2025 class still in progress, Freeman is already accelerating 2026 recruiting, prioritizing the trenches with strategic moves. No breaks, no second-guessing—just big-time moves, and that’s building up a strong roster
Let’s face it, Notre Dame’s offensive line was a mess in the title game. And it wasn’t just that one game; they struggled on third down all season long, ending up ranked just 61st nationally in third down conversions (at 41.3%). Ironically, they were pretty good on fourth down (ranked 9th), but their downfield passing game was seriously lacking. The trenches clearly took a beating, and it showed. In that final game alone, their QB, Riley Leonard, got sacked twice. This season they were absolutely decimated by injuries—twelve players down! And to make matters worse, they lost some serious talent to the transfer portal, with guys like Pat Coogan, Rocco Spindler, and Sam Pendleton finding new homes. Freeman knew he had to fix this.
So, like any smart coach, he went out and recruited a certified 6-5, 320-pound beast, Tyler Merrill. This guy from Mechanicsburg (Pa.) Cumberland Valley is a perfect fit for a team like Notre Dame, which relies on inside zone, counter, and duo schemes for their running game. Now this requires big, strong linemen who can move defenders. And Merrill fits the bill perfectly.
wever, being big alone doesn’t make a dominant lineman, and Merrill brings more than just size to the table. He bullies defenders, clears lanes like a snowplow, and plays with an intimidating energy. Of course, he still needs to work on his physique and conditioning, but his size doesn’t hold him back. If anything, it makes him even more formidable. He’s exactly the kind of enforcer Marcus Freeman needs in his offensive line.
Plus, who wouldn’t want a player ranked 61st nationally, 5th as an interior lineman, and 2nd overall in Pennsylvania? It looks like Marcus Freeman has finally found a player who’s a perfect fit for his vision.
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