Heel Tough Blog: Dual-Sport Athlete Gary Merrill Joining Football Program
Updated: Feb 1, 2025
The Tar Heels are adding to the 2025 roster every day and the team has made a new addition in the form of a longtime commitment to the school’s lacrosse program.
As first reported by Ty Xanders, national analyst for Prep Lacrosse, UNC lacrosse commit Gary Merrill, the top-ranked midfielder in the 2025 class, is set to join the Tar Heel football program after receiving an offer from Bill Belchick and his staff recently.
Merrill, who was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of New York this year, just closed out his high school football career at St. Anthony’s High School in Melville, NY where he threw for 1,762 yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 68.9% of his passes and ran for 1,955 yards and 32 touchdowns in 13 games. The year prior, as a junior, he threw for 1,452 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions on 68.3% completions and ran for 1,154 yards and 15 touchdowns in 10 games.
It is unclear as to what position he will be playing with the team at this point, but if he does stick at quarterback, he will be able to provide some deeper depth for a room that will likely need it this season.
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