Louisville has secured its first commitment for the Class of 2026 from a significant in-state prospect, offensive lineman Max Merz from Fort Thomas Highlands. Merz announced his decision to become a Cardinal on Thursday afternoon.
Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 310 pounds, Merz expressed his excitement about joining Louisville, stating, “I have been in Louisville a bunch, and I really like the coaching staff, the top-notch facilities, and it’s close to home. I found my place, so I thought, why wait when I know where I want to go?”
The Cardinals offered Merz a scholarship during an unofficial visit in March. Since then, he attended a camp at UofL where he worked closely with position coach Richard Owens. Merz was also present for the team’s season-opening victory over Austin Peay last Saturday.
Reflecting on his visit, Merz said, “The Louisville visit went well, and I had a great time at my first game. It was awesome to see them win like that. The Card March was cool to watch as they walked in.”
He is already planning to return for the game against Miami and is likely to attend more games this season.
Merz, a third-team All-State selection after his sophomore year, has drawn attention from the Louisville staff due to his potential. “They liked my film and that I’m still young and have a lot of potential,” he noted after a previous visit.
In addition to Louisville, Merz received early scholarship offers from EKU, Kent State, Marshall, Toledo, and Troy, and has garnered interest from several other schools.
