Merrimack College Athletics

Career

• 2019 New England Football Writers All-New England selection 

• Finished eighth in Merrimack history in career tackles (232)

• Appeared in 33 games over his four-year career

• NE10 All-Conference Third Team selection in 2018

2019

• Appeared in all 11 games as a junior

• Led the team in tackles with 91 on the season

• Ranked sixth in the NEC in with nearly eight tackles per game

• Set career highs in total tackles including a career-high 62 total solo stops

• Totaled five games with at least 10.0 tackles

• Added 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, one forced fumble and two pass break ups 

• Had his best game at Central Connecticut, totaling 13 tackles and an interception, which he returned for a TD

• Posted two games with at least 10 solo tackles: 10.0 at CCSU (9/7) and 11.0 at LIU (11/23)

2018

• NE10 All-Conference Third Team selection
• Bounced back from an injury-shortened season with a breakthrough redshirt sophomore campaign that saw him start nine games
• Was one of the most valuable players on the entire team and his efforts on the defensive side of the ball led to his first-ever all-conference nod at the third team linebacker position
• Ranked sixth in the NE10 in tackles per game (8.1), ninth in sacks (4.0), and tied for sixth in tackles for losses (10.5)
• Led Merrimack in total tackles (81) and sacks (4.0)
• Also contributed a team-high six quarterback hurries and tied the team lead with two forced fumbles while adding three pass breakups
• Two of those forced fumbles directly contributed to scoring plays, including the touchdown that sealed the win at Saint Anselm -- a game in which he had a career-high 3.5 sacks and 5.0 tackles for losses in (10/20)
• Had double-digit solo tackle totals in two games and double-digit total tackles in four
• Went off for a career-high 19 tackles against LIU Post (9/29)

2017

• Was projected to be team's starting middle linebacker before suffering a season-ending injury early in the year 
• Recorded eight tackles through the first two games of the season prior to his injury
• Recorded first career interception at Bryant (9/2)

2016

• Appeared in all 11 games as a true freshman
• Led all Merrimack rookies in tackles with 52 (27 solo) including one for a loss
• Forced one fumble
• Had career-high 10 tackles against Saint Anselm (10/29)

Before Merrimack

• Attended Central Catholic High School (Merrimack Valley Conference)
• All-Conference selection (junior)
• All-Scholastic pick (senior)
• Also lettered in baseball

Personal

• Born June 19, 1998
• Son of Karen and Michael Mercuri
• Brother to Meg, John, Sean and Kate
• Sports Management major

CAREER HIGHS
All-purpose yards: 14, at Bryant, 09/02/17 
Interceptions: 1, at Bryant, 09/02/17; at Central Conn. St., 9/7/2019 
Long interception return: 34, at Central Conn. St., 9/7/2019
Tackles: 19, LIU Post, 09/29/18 (11-8)
Sacks: 3.5, at Saint Anselm, Oct 20, 2018 (3-1)
Tackles for loss: 5.0, at Saint Anselm, Oct 20, 2018 (4-1)
Fumbles forced: 1, 4 times
Pass breakups: 2, Southern Conn., 10/22/16 ; at Saint Anselm, 10/29/16