Merritt’s decommitment from the Buckeyes comes as Deion Sanders and Colorado have intensified their efforts to sway the defender from Florida’s IMG Academy in the past two months.

 

Merritt took an official visit to Colorado in October, then returned for another visit this month. Colorado’s on-field success in Year 2 under Sanders has been central in its recruiting pitch, and sources told ESPN that the addition of five-star quarterback Julian Lewis to the Buffaloes’ class has only bolstered Merritt’s confidence in the program’s future.

“Colorado is doing a great job in recruiting me and making my head turn different ways,” Merritt told ESPN this month. “They’re building something great and I definitely can see myself [being] a part of that process.”

Merritt initially committed to Ohio State on March 29, but his exit marks the second top-100 departure from the Buckeyes’ incoming class since Nov. 18 after four-star defensive end Zahir Mathis (No. 63) pulled his commitment last weekend.

Ohio State enters the final week before the early signing period with the No. 1 class in ESPN’s latest team rankings for the 2025 cycle. The Buckeyes are expected to host five-star defensive end Jahkeem Stewart this weekend along with a handful of other elite prospects.

With his decommitment, Merritt becomes ESPN’s fifth-ranked uncommitted prospect and remains among a collection of high-profile recruits that Colorado is targeting late in the cycle.

The Buffaloes remain in the mix for four-star linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (No. 81), while Colorado has also stayed in contact with four-star Alabama offensive pledge Michael Carroll (No. 74), former USC offensive tackle commit Carde Smith (No. 293) and three-star Oklahoma State defensive end pledge Alexander McPherson.