Will Merritt Class: RS Senior Hometown: Easley, S.C. High School: Wren Height / Weight: 6-3 / 260 Position: OG Experience: 2VL

Merritt Fact: Rated as the seventh best offensive guard in the nation by Lindy's for 2001
Fall 2001 Depth Chart Position: Co-starter at right offensive guard
Years Lettered: 1998, 1999 and 2000
Bowl Participation: 1999 Peach Bowl vs. Mississippi State and 2001 Gator Bowl
Top Honor: Second-team All-ACC in 2000

Overview: Second-team All-ACC guard in 2000...ranked among the top offensive guards in the nation heading into the 2001 season…ranked seventh by Lindy's and 14th by Sporting News in the preseason ratings for this year…made the ACC Academic Honor roll for the 2000-01 academic year…had an active 2000-01 at Clemson, he earned his degree in December, then got married in April…a member of Clemson's LIFELINE organization…tied Clemson single game record for knockdown blocks with 21 against NC State in 2000...had three intimidation blocks among his 21 knockdowns in that game ...ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against NC State...one of 40 Outland Trophy Nominees at midseason by the Football Writers Association.....started each of the last 10 games of the season, he came off the bench for the first two contests...played 79 snaps as a starter in the Virginia Tech game, he went the entire contest...started 10 of the 12 games and averaged 64 snaps per game...graded 79 percent for the Missouri game to take over the starting guard position...had best game in terms of grade against Duke, he had 83 percent grade to tie Kyle Young for the top grade in that game...had eight knockdown blocks...had the 21 knockdowns the next week and graded 75 percent against NC State...had seven games in which he graded 70 percent or better, including the Georgia Tech game when he graded 77 percent and had seven knockdowns...averaged seven knockdowns per game...played an incredible 100 snaps against NC State…played 765 snaps in 12 games in 2000, 10 as a starter…averaged nearly 64 plays per game….

In 1999: Played in seven games, two as a starter in 1999....played 10 snaps as a reserve against Mississippi State in the Peach Bowl...started the first two games of the 1999 season, he was a key to Clemson's win over Virginia...suffered a broken collarbone in the open date week, he played just 36 snaps over the last nine games of the season due to the injury....one of 11 Clemson scholars who were honored at the Peach Bowl Awards Luncheon…played 70 snaps against Marshall and 68 against Virginia in the first two games, then played just 36 snaps the rest of the season due to the collarbone injury...played 23 snaps against Duke...actually had a pass reception for no yards against Marshall when he caught a batted ball...played in seven games for the season, two as a starter...had 64 percent grade against Marshall and 66 percent against Virginia...missed just 21 snaps over the first two games...finished the year by playing 10 snaps in the Peach Bowl against Mississippi State...

In 1998: Reserve guard and center who played in one game (Furman) for six snaps....

In 1997: Red-shirted the 1997 season...In High School: Captain of the North in the North-South All-Star game in Myrtle Beach...a Western 3A First-Team choice along with fellow Clemson starting offensive lineman Kyle Young...graded out at least 80-percent in every game as a senior at Wren HS...also had 57 tackles as a defensive lineman his senior season...selected by the Anderson Touchdown Club as the Lineman-of-the-Week...All-Area Lineman-of-the-Year by the Anderson Independent...played for Coach Jack King at Wren HS...also lettered three times in basketball as a center and was the team's leading rebounder...played all three offensive line areas in high school and served as long snapper....avid fan of many Clemson sports, including the golf team…he attended the NCAA national championships at Duke in May of 2001…born William M. Merritt on 4-2-79...earned his degree in Speech and Communication studies.