DemetriMerritt

High School: A linebacker and defensive end in high school, he projects as a defensive end in the collegiate ranks … Totaled 88 tackles as a senior, including six quarterback sacks, three tackles for loss, one caused fumble and two fumble recoveries … Two-year member of the all-area team … Listed as the nation’s No. 36 weakside linebacker by Scout.com … Helped take LaGrange to an 11-3 record and state semifinals his senior season … Coached by Steve Pardue … “Demetri has really good football instincts and tremendous upside,” Pardue said … Among the number of recent LaGrange players at Kentucky that includes former All-Southeastern Conference linebackers Wesley Woodyard (now with the Denver Broncos) and Braxton Kelley (also with the Broncos), former wide receiver/current student coach DeMoreo Ford and current cornerback Randall Burden … Merritt is a teammate of current Wildcat signees Qua Huzzie and Tristian Johnson.

Personal: Born in Meridian, Miss. … Son of Ron Merritt and Sharon Merritt … Two of Demetri’s cousins, Tim and Simeon Castille, played at Alabama … Major is undeclared.