2026 offensive lineman Max Merz commits to play football at Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville football program’s recruiting efforts for the Class of 2025 have been completed for some time now, and efforts for the next cycle are already underway and include commitments from in-state residents.

Max Merz, an offensive lineman who plays on I-71 in Fort Thomas (Ky.) Highlands, announced Thursday that he has given his verbal commitment to the Cardinals.

“Card nation… I’m home,” he wrote on Twitter/X.

There has been a lot of crossover interest between Louisville and Merz over the past few months, who was officially offered in March. He has made several unofficial visits to camps and workouts, and most recently attended a UofL game for the first time last weekend when the Cardinals crushed Austin Peay in their season opener.

Although the 6-foot-4, 305-pound interior offensive lineman has only six total offers and is not ranked by major recruiting services, he has shown potential as a prospect thus far. He was named to the All-State Third Team as a sophomore last season and was named to the Kentucky All-Sophomore Team by the Kentucky Prep Redzone.

Merz marks the first commitment for Louisville in their 2026 recruiting class. For the more immediate 2025 recruiting cycle, the Cardinals currently have 13 verbal commitments for a class that ranks 67th in the country.

(Photo by Max Merz from Instagram)

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