The new McNeese assistant coach started his collegiate career at Texarkana Community College and after batting .424 as a sophomore when he earned all-conference and all-region honors, he received a scholarship to Nebraska.

Merrill played one season at Nebraska, batting .241, and then transferred to Arkansas. At Arkansas he was part of the 2004 Southeastern Conference Championship team that earned a berth to the College World Series. He hit .273 in his only season with the Razorbacks and hit a home run in a NCAA Regional game against Wichita State.

Following his senior year with the Razorbacks, he served the team as a graduate assistant coach and last year was a volunteer coach, assisting with the team's hitters and coaching the catchers.