Jacob Merrifield

Position:
Defensive Tackle
Height:
6-2
Weight:
290
Class:
Graduate Student
Hometown:
Winder, Ga.
Prev School:
FAU
High School:
Winder-Barrow HS

2025 CSC Academic All-District

A transfer from FAU who joined the Bulls in December 2024…played in 33 games for FAU, recording 47 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery...in his one season with the Bulls, he saw action in all 13 games.

2025: Played in all 13 games on the year...posted 19 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and a pass break-up...posted a season-best four tackles in the season-opening win over No. 25 Boise State (8/28)...had four stops vs. Charlotte (10/3)...made three tackles and a sack in a win at North Texas (10/10)...had a sack vs. FAU (10/18)...posted two tackles at Navy (11/15).

2024 (FAU): Named to Allstate Wuerffel Trophy/AFCA Good Works Team Watch List…played in seven games, posting 16 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks…recorded a season high five tackles at Michigan State (8/30)..contributed two tackles vs. Army (9/7)…started against Wagner (9/28), collecting three tackles, including 1.5 for a loss and a sack…started and added a tackle assist versus North Texas…at UTSA (10/19) had three tackles and season highs of 2.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks while adding a quarterback hurry.

2023 (FAU): Named a captain for the Owls…played in 12 games, posting 14 tackles and 1.0 tackles for loss…started and contributed a tackle assist in a victory over Monmouth (9/2)…started and tallied three tackles at Clemson (9/16)…started at Illinois (9/23)…logged a season high four tackles in win over Tulsa (10/7)…had three tackles at Rice (11/25).

2022 (FAU): Played in 11 games, posting 15 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery…drew his first collegiate start at nose guard vs. Ohio (9/3) and posted a tackle assist…started vs. Southeastern Louisiana (9/10) posted and a tackle assist for a loss…credited with a season-high four tackles and a red zone fumble recovery vs. UCF (9/17)…tallied three tackles, including a solo, at UNT (10/1)…at Rice (10/15) he contributed two tackles, including one for a loss of two yards…two tackle assists at UTEP (10/22).

2021 (FAU): Played in three games, recording two tackles…had a tackle assist in season home-opening win over Georgia Southern (9/11)…recorded a solo tackle in a win over Fordham (9/18).

HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Winder-Barrow under Head Coach Ed Dudley… named All-State as a senior…finished his four-year career with 182 tackles, 42.0 tackles for loss, and 12.0 sacks…posted 56 tackles during his senior season, including 15.0 behind the line of scrimmage…also forced two fumbles and recovered one for a score…as a junior, he had 66 tackles and 19.0 TFL, with six sacks…participated in three GACA All-Star games…also played basketball for the Bulldogs… a three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN…had offers from FAU, Navy, Liberty, and Georgia State.

PERSONAL: The son of Dennis and Renee Merrifield…has three sisters: Megan, Madison and Makenna...earned USF Athletic Honor Roll recognition in fall of 2025...earned 2025 CSC Academic All-District...earned his USF master's degree in business administration in the spring of 2026.