CLEMSON — London Merrit has been more than Tom Allen was expecting.
When Merritt arrived at Clemson after transferring in from Colorado, Allen leaned towards thinking there was still some development that needed to take place. Not that the staff didn’t believe Merritt couldn’t come in and immediately contribute, but that there was more growth needing to take place.
However, that isn’t exactly how things have played out. While the second-year defensive end might have needed a little time to settle in during the spring, fall camp was a whole different story.
“London Merrit, I think, has taken his game to another level this fall,” Allen said. “I thought he did a lot of good things in the spring.”
After watching Merrit throughout fall camp, Allen believes the 6-foot-3, 255-pound Atlanta native is ready to make his mark now.
“You watched him in film from a year ago when he was playing at Colorado and he has really far exceeded what I thought he might come in and be able to do,” Allen added. “Really excited about him.”
As a freshman at Colorado, Merritt appeared in 12 games and started in one contest. He accrued 25 tackles, including eight for loss – the fourth-most among power conference freshmen, earning him freshman All-American honors from PFF. Merritt was also an honorable mention for Big 12 Freshman of the Year.
With Will Heldt, Jahiem Lawson and Darien Mayo also part of the room along with Merritt, Allen is extremely confident in the group’s ability. The second-year defensive coordinator also praised fifth-year senior Caden Story for the progress he’s made throughout the offseason.
Heldt and Lawson are likely the ones that will run out first when Clemson opens the season at LSU on Saturday, but there will be a place in the rotation for Merritt. While he may not be the most vocal guy on the team, he has displayed the kind of intensity that Allen likes to see out of his pass rushers.
“It might be our deepest position,” Allen said. “I like that room a lot.”
“London don’t say much. He is just going to knock your head off.
