Kirk Merritt

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Kirk Merritt
No. 83 – Miami Dolphins
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1997-01-05) January 5, 1997 (age 24)
New Orleans, Louisiana
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:214 lb (97 kg)
Career information
High school:Destrehan
(Destrehan, Louisiana)
College:Arkansas State
Undrafted:2020
Career history
Roster status:Practice squad
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 9, 2021
Receptions:1
Receiving yards:13
Receiving touchdowns:0
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Kirk Merritt (born January 5, 1997) is an American football wide receiver on the practice squad for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arkansas State Red Wolves.

Early life and high school[]

Merritt grew up in Destrehan, Louisiana and attended Destrehan High School. He gained a combined 1,058 rushing and receiving yards and scored 11 total touchdowns as a senior.[1] Merritt was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college football at Oregon over offers from Alabama, Auburn, and Texas A&M.[2]

College career[]

Merritt began his collegiate career at the University of Oregon. He played in 12 games for the Ducks as a freshman and caught five passes for 61 yards and rushed three times for 13 yards. Merritt left the program after his freshman year.[3]

Merritt later transferred to Texas A&M.[4] Merritt sat out the 2016 season due to NCAA transfer rules. He was dismissed from the team in April 2017, after being charged for two separate cases of indecent exposure.[5] Following his dismissal, Merritt transferred to East Mississippi Community College.[6] He caught 52 passes for 628 yards and four touchdowns in his lone season with the Lions and committed to transfer to Arkansas State University for his final two years of eligibility.[7]

Merritt became an immediate starter for the Red Wolves and was named first team All-Sun Belt Conference after leading the conference with 83 receptions and 1,005 receiving yards while also catching seven touchdowns.[8] He repeated as a first team All-Sun Belt selection as a redshirt senior after finishing the season with 70 receptions for 806 yards and 12 touchdowns.[9]

Professional career[]

Merritt was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent on April 25, 2020.[10] He was waived on September 4, 2020, during final roster cuts, but was signed to the team's practice squad on September 6.[11][12] He was elevated to the active roster on November 7 for the team's week 9 game against the Arizona Cardinals, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.[13] He was placed on the practice squad/COVID-19 list by the team on December 15, 2020,[14] and restored to the practice squad three days later.[15] He was elevated to the active roster again on December 31 for the week 17 game against the Buffalo Bills, and reverted to the practice squad again following the game.[16] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Dolphins on January 6, 2021.[17]

On August 31, 2021, Merritt was waived by the Dolphins and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[18]

References[]

  1. ^ Sayles, Damon (February 2, 2015). "How the Versatility of 4-Star Kirk Merritt Can Help the Oregon Class". Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  2. ^ Suffrin, Al (February 5, 2015). "Destrehan's Kirk Merritt commits to Oregon". The New Orleans Advocate. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
  3. ^ "WR Kirk Merritt leaves Oregon Ducks because of 'family issues'". Statesman Journal. June 20, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  4. ^ Cooper, Sam (July 8, 2016). "Texas A&M lands Oregon transfer Kirk Merritt". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  5. ^ Spain, Kevin (April 26, 2017). "Kirk Merritt dismissed from Texas A&M football team". USA Today. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  6. ^ "Report: Ex-Texas A&M wide receiver Kirk Merritt headed to 'Last Chance U'". The Dallas Morning News. May 14, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  7. ^ Kubena, Brooks (January 17, 2018). "ASU: Juco WR signee passes vetting". The Northwest Arkansas Times. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  8. ^ Hudgison, Chris (July 18, 2019). "Arkansas State WR Kirk Merritt selected to Biletnikoff Award watch list". KAIT8.com. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  9. ^ Schwartz, Matthew (April 18, 2020). "Arkansas State WR Kirk Merritt talks NFL Draft prep and future at next level". KAIT8.com. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  10. ^ Schwartz, Matthew (April 25, 2020). "Arkansas State WR Kirk Merritt agrees to undrafted free agent deal with the Miami Dolphins". KAIT8.com.
  11. ^ "Kirk Merritt: Heads to waivers". CBSSports.com. RotoWire. September 4, 2020.
  12. ^ "Dolphins sign former Gators receiver to practice squad".
  13. ^ "Activated Austin Jackson, Elevated Kirk Merritt". MiamiDolphins.com. November 7, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  14. ^ "Kirk Merritt: In COVID-19 protocol". CBSSports.com. December 15, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  15. ^ "Kirk Merritt: Clears COVID-19 protocols". CBSSports.com. December 18, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  16. ^ "Dolphins Sign Jake Rudock, Place Ryan Fitzpatrick On Reserve/COVID-19 List". MiamiDolphins.com. December 31, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  17. ^ "Dolphins' Kirk Merritt: Inks future contract". CBSSports.com. January 6, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  18. ^ "Roster Moves: Dolphins Announce Roster Moves - August 31". MiamiDolphins.com. August 31, 2021.

External links[]

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