Braden Merritt '25 Recruiting Profile

Good Afternoon,

My name is Braden Merritt and I am currently a freshman at St. Joseph High School in Victoria, TX.  I am currently a “Six Quarter” player with our Flyer football team.  I am the starting Center and Defensive Tackle for our JV team and I am eligible to play two quarters with our Varsity team each week.  I am very excited that it is time to start my journey as a high school athlete!  Playing football at the collegiate level has been my dream for as long as I can remember! 

I started playing football at 6 years old with my city’s youth football program.  At 10 years old, I was invited to play at the select level with the Icon Raiders.  I had a very successful junior high experience in both academics and athletics.  I started as Center and Defensive Tackle and served as Team Captain each season in my 6^th-8^th grade years.  I maintained a 4.0 GPA, was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society, received the Bishop’s Award for Christian character, the Math Award for excellence in the subject, the Service Award for outstanding service to my community, and graduated in the top 10 of my class.  I am most proud of earning the Fallen Eagle Award at the conclusion of my 8^th grade year.  The Fallen Eagle is awarded to one athlete selected by the Head Football Coach, Athletic Director, and Principal in memorial of a former Eagle.  The recipient is honored for not only performing well on the field, but also excelling in the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and Christian character.    

As I prepared for the start of my high school football career, I began participating in personal training 6-9 hours per week in addition to working a personally tailored home program in the seven months leading up to the start of the season.  Since starting with my trainer, I have increased my squat strength to 365 lbs, my bench press to 165 lbs, and increased my running speed tremendously.  I continue to work out with my trainer on Sunday mornings during the season.  I look forward to increasing my max lifting amounts as I continue to work with my trainer in the off season and I also plan to join my school’s weightlifting team.  Most importantly, during the time with my trainer I have increased my confidence, my leadership skills, and I look forward to encouraging and mentoring younger athletes as they enter the training program as the upperclassman have done for me.   

Both my Junior High Football Coach, Mark Tamez, and my personal trainer, Doug Zelkowski, have said they would be honored to serve as a reference for me and speak with recruiters on my behalf.  Coach Tamez’s phone number is 361-571-3326 and Coach Doug’s phone number is (909) 499-4899.