University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Football Announces First Mid-Year Signee
12/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 21, 2005
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss Head Football Coach Jeff Bower has announced the signing of 6-4, 290-pound defensive lineman Sean Merrill from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to a letter of intent and grant-in-aid. He will join the team for the 2005 spring semester.
"We are excited about the addition of Sean to our program," Bower said. "He will help fill one of our needs with the loss of several key seniors from the defensive side of the ball. With Sean enrolling for the spring semester, it gives him a chance to get accustomed to the academic responsibilities, as well as a chance to go through spring workouts and learn our system before next season."
Sean Merrill, DL, 6-4, 290, D'Iberville, Miss./Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
Originally signed with LSU, redshirting in 2003, before transferring to MGCCC following the 2004 season ... Juco: 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 ... 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 ... Plans to major in coaching and sport administration ... Born March 12, 1984.
