Sleeper RB waking up colleges

Division I coaches have been coming to Los Angeles (Calif.) Verbum Dei in bunches to see the likes of defensive end Akeem Ayers, athlete Reggie Dunn and quarterback Curtis Wilson. While looking at the above players another Verbum Dei athlete has turned into a prospect.

Keep your eyes on running back Sean Merritt (5-10, 225, 4.6). Merritt has been a benefactor of being on a team that has several players already heating up the recruiting trail his talent has now put him on the radar.

"When coaches see Sean working out they ask us who's that big running back," Verbum Dei assistant coach Owen Brown said. "They comment on his quickness and speed for his size, but when coaches see his film they are more amazed."

"Some coaches like him as a fullback and while others as a halfback," Brown said. "We use him as our feature back, but at times Sean is used at fullback to lead block for Reggie Dunn and Curtis Wilson, or carry the ball for short yardage."

"Sean has come a long way in the off season and is working his tail off in the weight room, on the field and in the classroom," Brown said. "He wants to have no excuses for himself for not performing at the top of his game. Sean's goal is to lead his team his senior season to the CIF finals and winning it all."

"At the end of the day, I think Sean will be a top five running back on the West Coast or even a top five fullback nationally," Brown said. "That's how confident I am in this kid as a football player."

"Sean doesn't have a top school at the moment but he likes USC, UCLA, Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Cal, San Diego State and UNLV," Brown said. "He prefers to be a halfback, but is also very open to play fullback as long as the school features the fullback in the offense, similar to how UCLA features Michael Pitre or Oregon features Dante Rosario or USC featured David Kirtman.

Merritt has a busy camp schedule planned and will be participating at the UCLA one day camp, USC rising senior camp, B2G camp and maybe San Diego State one day camp.