Connect with us

Featured

Justin Merriweather Keeps The Promise Of The Future

Justin Merriweather Keeps The Promise Of The Future

January 6, 2012

Dirk Knudsen
OregonPreps.com Editor

Dirk Knudsen: OregonPreps.com
One of the highest ranked players in Oregon last Spring never saw the football field in 2011 but he isn’t near done yet!

About a year ago OregonPreps.com released our Top of 2012 for Football. One guy in the top part of that list never saw the football field this year. But in him is the promise of the future.

British Humanitarian and business icon Adlin Sinclair has this quote credited to him:

“Without faith, hope and trust, there is no promise for the future, and without a promising future, life has no direction, no meaning and no justification.”

No doubt that quote applies to us all and doubly to young athletes within whom the dream of greatest is still alive. When faced with the reality that they are loosing those dreams many fall to lowest depths.

Justin Merriweather was a Top 10 prospect and a student athlete that Oregon Preps had projected to go straight to the D-1 ranks. But like so many kids the South Salem man child ran into some personal crisis that kept him out of school and off the field.

He had moved between parents households his Junior year after a stellar year on the grid iron for the Saxons. Something he says just did not workout.

“I moved between my parents homes. It was hard and I tried to adjust but in the process of all that let my grades slip,” explained a thoughtful Merriweather. “I ended up having to enroll in Chemeketa Community College to finish High School out and missed my Senior year of football. That just killed me inside.”

The 6’3″ and 240 pound bruiser is no doubt a D-1 or D-1AA Talent. His 36″ vertical and reported 4.8 40 time give him a rare combo of size and speed.

As a Inside Backer he is very solid. In the defensive-end spot he seems at home. And Justin had heard from schools big and small his Junior season that they were interested.

Dirk Knudsen: OregonPreps.com
Merriweather left (#45) was a tough cookie on the field and got in some big hits and let no one push him around at the 2011 Tanoa Bowl

Thus far he is on schedule to graduate on time or even a little early with his GED and be ready to move on to college. But missing his season all but crushed his chances of gaining offers. But the game did not totally abandon him.

He kept the Faith that things would work out and never gave in to feelings that Football was over. Then a ray of hope came to him in the Fall.

“My coaches at South Salem have always been there for me. When Coach Parker called in November to let me know I might have a chance to play in a post season showcase game I could not believe it. It was like someone threw me a lifeline,” said Justin.

What he was invited to play in was the first annual Tanoa Bowl Classic with Team Oregon. The committee recognized his passion for the game, his potential, and his personal efforts to persevere over unfortunate circumstances. The invite was extended and accepted.

He put his Trust in the coaches and team mates with him and gave them all he had to give.

Justin has never stopped training and came into the practices for the Tanoa Bowl in top form. He was a little rusty but by game time our analysts had to smile as he was in attack mode the whole game. He was impressive at times and was able to overpower almost everyone on the field.

There is Hope.

Justin looks ahead to his chances and is open to speaking to coaches at any level and too he understands that he is going to need to go through the JC process.

“College of the Siskyous is calling me. And I have some others in touch as well. Playing in the game let me know that I can do this and that I need to be back on the field,” said a driven Athlete. “We always heard that the game will end and for me it ended too soon so I have been hungry and waiting to get back. All the guys on both teams there at the bowl game (Oregon VS Alaska) are All Stars at some level. Many are going to D-1 or D-2 Colleges. So I see that I am on that level and that makes me want it all the more.”

Justin will be a welcome site wherever he ends up and we have no doubt that he can fulfill his potential in football and in life going forward.

I am the Founder of the Northwest Prep Report. For 17 years I have led the way to the best of my ability to promote the best talent from the Pacific NW free of charge. It is my pleasure to continue to serve High School athletes from all over the Pacific NW and beyond. Formerly with Rivals.com my sites have now crossed over 8,000 stories, 7 MILLION Video Views, and 15,000 regular followers. Together with the best football people in the USA we pursue excellence for our NW athletes.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in Featured