Tennessee transfer receiver Walker Merrill signed with Wake Forest to continue his college football career Thursday.
Welcome to 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍 🏠
✍️ @Walker_Merrill1
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The rising junior found a home quickly, signing with the Demon Deacons just eight days after entering the transfer portal.
“My time there (Knoxville) will always be cherished,” Merrill wrote in a statement announcing his transfer. “I gave everything I had to the program and gained a lot of great memories, friendships and experiences. After many thoughts and prayers with family and mentors, I have decided to enter my name in the transfer portal.”
Merrill was one of Tennessee’s top back up receivers as a sophomore after moving from slot receiver to out wide.
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The Brentwood, Tennessee native caught eight passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns in his sophomore season. All three of Merrill’s touchdowns came on passes from Joe Milton III. Two were in garbage time of wins over Ball State and Akron and the other came in Tennessee’s regular season finale win over Vanderbilt.
Merrill would have had a chance to earn a starting job in his junior season but Bru McCoy, Ramel Keyton and Squirrel White’s return and Oregon transfer Dont’e Thornton’s arrival made his path extremely difficult.
Wake Forest has been one of the ACC’s better programs under former Tennessee offensive coordinator Dave Clawson. The Demon Deacons have won eight or more games in three of the last four seasons and boast a strong passing offense.
