Nathan Merriman '13 Recruiting Profile

My name is Nathan Merriman, and I am the quarterback for Niwot High School. I have been starting since I was a sophomore and have totaled 4,415 yards and 30 touchdowns in my three-year campaign. I achieved a bench press max of 280 lbs. during the summer before my junior year. I have a standing throw measuring 65 yards.
Football is life to me and I work as hard as I can so I can be the best player possible. I have a drive that I would like to believe is unmatched at the high school level because I have so much passion and dedication for this game. In three years of starting varsity football, I have never missed a single day of summer camp or in-season practice. I do this to set an example to all of my teammates that dedication is vital to being successful in anything you do. This paid off because I was elected captain by my coaches and peers for my junior and senior years; which was the first time a junior has been chosen as a captain for the varsity team at Niwot.
Along with this, I have never jeopardized my future by making questionable decisions - I do not drink, and I do not do drugs.
As a junior, I was a starter on the varsity basketball team in addition to playing  football, which keeps me in shape all year long.
I volunteer at my local church every Saturday in the winter to referee "Upward" basketball, an elementary sports league. I enjoy doing this because I was a former player in the league, and know how much I appreciated having enthusiastic and knowledgeable referees that made the game much more fun. I also volunteer by tutoring my teammates who are struggling in classes so they can get better grades (and remain eligible to play).
I am open to all types of colleges, but would prefer to attend a college with strong academics and a football program that emphasizes character as much as athletic prowess. I also want to attend a college where I will have the best opportunity at seeing the field. I intend to major in either Business/Entrepreneurship or Law. My goal is to play at the highest level I can. If I need to red-shirt, I will do so to make sure that I am ready to make the biggest contribution to the team.