Atlantic High School's Jason Mercier is becoming a hot target on the trail
Jason Mercier has had a very busy month of January. He transferred from Boynton Beach to Delray Beach Atlantic this semester and has hit the ground running.
In what he calls an academic move, Mercier will now join forces with an Eagles team that finished 9-4 last season before being upended 28-21 in the regional finals by a talented Deerfield Beach squad. Mercier says Atlantic plans to utilize his speed and motor at both defensive end and outside linebacker. The versatile defender finished his junior season at Boynton Beach with 8 sacks, a pass deflection, and two forced fumbles. While he looks forward to getting some playing time at outside linebacker he told FlaVarsity that he prefers playing with his hand in the dirt.
"I should be playing outside linebacker this year but I love playing Defensive end more. Yea I like playing five-technique, but don't get me wrong I like standing up too. I'm fine with playing outside linebacker but I prefer (DE) because it's just a fun position to play and very competitive. I like being active and I like playing in the trenches," said Mercier.
The 6-foot-5, 240-pound edge defender has been perfecting his craft since his season ended by training with the Trench Setters defensive lineman camp run by Mater Academy assistant coach Chuck Brown down in Miami with some of the best defensive linemen in south Florida.
"I work with Trench Setters in Miami and we work on everything from technique, conditioning, to weightlifting. It's a great program, our coach is Chuck Brown and he's helping us improve, and I'm training for the Under Armour and Nike camps," boasted Mercier.
Mercier's recruitment started to take off last year around this time when he received his first offer from Florida Atlantic in April. Shortly thereafter, Louisville and UAB extended scholarships on the same day, May 11th of 2016. FIU, FAMU, and Bethune-Cookman offered on June and then Pitt and USF offered in November. Then on January of this year, Rutgers and Syracuse came calling.
"I was very excited (when Louisville offered) I just couldn't believe it. Especially from a school like that," exclaimed Mercier.
Mericer said UofL recruiting coordinator Cort Dennison came to Boynton Beach to watch the team practice and his performance earned him his first power five offer.
"My coach told me after they watched me practice at practice that they offered me, so I called coach Dennison and he told me it was true," said Mercier
When asked which school is showing him the most love currently his first response was Pittsburgh tight ends coach Tim Salem who he communicates with at least once a week, and Rutgers was also showing love. He also mentioned that Syracuse contacts him the most at a rate of twice per week. When asked about Louisville, he said that he is still in contact with coach Dennison and they talk every other week.
Mercier said he is wanting to wait until later in the process to announce his commitment but did give FlaVarsity a "current top-5 as of right now."
"Well in no order: Syracuse, Pitt, USF, Louisville, and FAU right now," commented Mercier when asked for his top schools.
We also asked him if he was planning on staying in-state for college.
"Nope, out of state," he replied
Mercier plans to visit Miami for their Junior Day but doesn't have other visits set up at the moment.
Be sure to keep an eye out for Mercier this offseason, if he has a strong camp perfomance we here at FlaVarsity expect his stock to take flight to a national level.