Top 100 OL Tyler Merrill goes in-depth on return visit to Michigan for BBQ at The Big House

One of the highest ranked recruits on campus for the BBQ at The Big House at Michigan last weekend was Tyler Merrill.

The Top 100 2026 offensive tackle out of Mechanicsburg (Pa.) Cumberland Valley has visited U-M on multiple occasions already and enjoyed being back in Ann Arbor for another in-depth look at the program.

“It was great to be back,” Merrill said. “I had great visits beforehand. I knew I had to go back. I got a deep dive with Coach (Grant) Newsome and Coach (Sherrone) Moore. I got more of a feel for what the people are like, what the opportunities are like for the players, what they do during practice, what travel is like and just more details. It was awesome to get to see those guys again and meet some new recruits and immerse myself in what Michigan is all about. I had fun. My family really enjoyed it.”

Merrill spent extended time with new Michigan offensive line coach Grant Newsome and also went through a workout with him.

“It was awesome talking to him,” Merrill said. “He’s a really genuine guy. There is no BS with him. He’s very particular with what he wants. It’s important to have someone like that as a leader, especially at a school like Michigan. He loves me. He emphasizes how much I mean to Michigan and how much he loves having me there. They can’t get enough of me, and I can’t get enough of them.”

New Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore previously served as Merrill’s lead recruiter and was also heavily involved on the visit.

“I knew Coach Moore when he was the offensive line coach,” Merrill said. “He hasn’t changed a single bit. That says a lot about the program. They aren’t going to change who they are. They’ll highlight the bad and the good. I love his philosophy and the way he communicates with people. I feel like anyone would want to be close to this guy. I can only say positive things about him. He checks a lot of the boxes that I look for.”

The Michigan staff got a bit of a boost from Top 100 2026 quarterback commit Brady Hart, who spent plenty of time peer recruiting throughout the weekend.

“We chatted a little bit, and he seems like a genuine kid as well,” Merrill said. “My dad talked to his dad and asked him what was different about getting recruited as a quarterback. He seems like a genuine dude. Brady definitely is the leader type.”

So where does Michigan stand following the visit?

“I really want to take my recruiting step-by-step,” Merrill said. “I want to see every place before I start narrowing things down. I can tell you that Michigan fits a lot of what I’m looking for.”

Along with Michigan, Merrill holds offers from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas A&M and others.

At 6-foot-5, 330 pounds, Merrill is ranked as the No. 6 interior offensive lineman and No. 66 overall recruit nationally, per the On3 Industry Ranking.

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