I first saw Mericle for an in-person scout at last year’s Back to Ballin 7v7 tournament during April of 2025 in Cedar Falls. He impressed, and I wanted to check in with what he did during his sophomore season at West Liberty last fall, so I looked up his 10th-grade highlight video. It opens with a 90-plus-yard touchdown pass where he gets the ball down the field without a lot of effort, a play that features his arm strength and touch. Mericle moves well in the pocket, feeling the pressure and flashing smooth footwork leading him to areas to set up and throw. Again, the arm strength is easy whether firing the ball into tight spaces or chucking it deep down the field. Mericle sees the field well and quickly cycles through his progressions. He’s a quarterback prospect with a lot of upside and a chance to take a big step forward in 2026. And that’s saying something, considering he completed 58.4 percent of his passes for 1,661 yards and nine touchdowns against eight interceptions last season.

Devin Mericle Devin Mericle 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB West Liberty | 2028 State IA has prototypical Pro-Style QB size, and after a solid debut in his sophomore season should give West Liberty a lot to be excited for over the next 2 seasons. Mericle finished with 1661 passing yards, 9 TDs, and 8 INTs. In terms of arm strength and depth, Mericle showcased a lot of elite potential, nailing some great passes on tape over the defenders’ heads to find his man in stride. Mericle looks comfortable in the pocket, zipping passes to all three levels of the defense with poise and showing great footwork maneuvering around the pocket while maintaining his drop. The Comets have a confident signal-caller that they can build around, which could pave the way for huge results going forward.

(@DMericleQB1)

West Liberty’s Devin Mericle Devin Mericle 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB West Liberty | 2028 State IA makes quite the introduction to the rankings, landing as QB2 and #23 overall. Devin had a strong first season as a starter for the Comets, completing 132 of 226 attempts for 1,661 yards, 9 passing touchdowns, and a 126.2 QBR. Devin has prototypical size at 6’5″ and 210 pounds with room to continue filling out his frame. He has a strong arm that can deliver the ball to nearly anywhere on the field, and especially shows impressive zip on his throws over the middle. He’s able to thread the ball through tight windows and attack defenses between the seams. Devin is very poised in the pocket and showed that he can use his legs to extend plays and work around pass rushers. Good job moving through his progressions. Devin has the measurables and upside to make waves as he continues to develop.

Mericle still is growing into his 6-3 frame. He should be able to do so without losing any of his agility. His footwork is smooth and he delivers the ball accurately from multiple arm angles. Mericle does well in putting it on receivers in stride so they can gain yards after the catch. He should add zip on his fastball as he fills out and adds arm muscle. Mericle is definitely one to watch this 2025 prep season.