Longtime UNC lacrosse program commitment Gary Merrill announced that he will also play football when he gets to Chapel Hill.
St. Anthony's (N.Y.) and @team91lacrosse midfielder Gary Merrill, a longtime @UNCMensLacrosse commit and the top-ranked '25 midfielder, just announced he'll also play for @UNCFootball after receiving a recent offer from Bill Belichick and his staff.
— Ty Xanders (@tyxanders) January 30, 2025
One of NY's top athletes, he… pic.twitter.com/N9bCxiHvbl
Merrill is some athlete. He is a five-star lacrosse midfielder and was named Gatorade New York Football Player of the Year after a stellar senior campaign for St. Anthony's High School. Merrill threw for 1,762 yards and 19 touchdowns, but ran for--get this--1,955 yards and 32 touchdowns! This is a guy who is clearly quick on his feet.
Merrill will likely be depth for Bill Belichick under center, as Bryce Baker is the more polished quarterback recruit. But this move shouldn't be a surprise to anyone in Chapel Hill, considering Coach Belichick's love affair with lacrosse. He played lacrosse at Wesleyan University. His son (and new defensive coordinator) Steve played lacrosse at Rutgers. His daughter Amanda is the head coach of women's lacrosse at Holy Cross.
The UNC football program has two lacrosse players on the roster right now in kicker Ryan Hornyak and former Texas Christian wide receiver Drew Scott. And Bill Belichick famously turned a former lax player into a serviceable Patriots wide receiver in Chris Hogan.
UNC men's lacrosse program head coach Joe Breschi told USA Lacrosse Magazine that Bill Belichick left him a hand-written note after his hiring pledging support to the lacrosse program. UNC has lost prized lacrosse recruits to other schools because of a lack of support for allowing players to play both lax and football.
Gary Merrill is the first two-sport lacrosse player at UNC under Bill Belichick. Don't expect him to be the last.