"From a scale from 1-10, I’d say a 10": Four-star safety Timothy Merritt reflects on Tennessee's effort to flip his commitment

By Maliha

Modified Oct 28, 2024 15:37 GMT

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Four-star safety Timothy Merritt has remained committed to Miami's 2025 class since June. However, coach Josh Heupel and Tennessee staff have been trying their best to flip the Alabama native to the Volunteers.

Merritt’s visit to Knoxville for the Volunteers’ nail-biting 24-17 victory over Alabama on Oct. 19 has reignited speculation about his future. Speaking with On3, he expressed the intensity of Tennessee’s push, saying:

"They are definitely applying a lot of pressure, and from a scale from 1-10, I’d say a 10."

One thing Merritt liked about Vols fans was that they never lost hope in the school and kept cheering it on until the end. He was overwhelmed to be treated like a priority in the school.

“When I’m in the house of the Vols, they show me so much love and treat me like one of their own,” Merritt told Tennessee on SI. “They really want me up there. I was told that I’m top on their recruiting board, and they have to have me, it’s a must.”

Merritt is the nation’s No. 548 overall prospect, the No. 45 cornerback in the 2025 class and the No. 25 recruit in Alabama, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

Miami's 2025 cycle has 21 other committed players besides Timothy Merritt. The cycle slipped from No. 5 to No. 10 in the nation following the decommitments of linebacker Elijah Melendez, wide receiver Waden Charles, offensive tackle Lamar Williams and wide receiver Malachi Toney. Merritt's potential decommitment will be another blow for this cycle.

Can Tennessee flip Timothy Merritt from Miami?

Timothy Merritt's commitment to Miami was influenced by his strong bond with the Hurricanes' cornerback coach, Chevis Jackson, who initially recruited him during his time at Marshall. Despite this commitment, he has kept his options open, visiting Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama and Auburn in the last few months.

The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine gives the Vols a 36.7% chance of flipping his commitment, while Miami has less than a 1% chance of retaining his commitment.

Tennessee has 23 committed players in its 2025 class, which ranks No. 6 in the Southeastern Conference and No. 8 in the nation. The cycle has two safety commits: four-star Georgia native Lagonza Hayward and three-star Alabama native Sidney Walton.

Besides Tennessee, Arkansas has a 25.8% chance of flipping Merritt, while Alabama trails with an 11.3% likelihood.