Michigan State football: Jake Merritt on living out his dream, and his viral meme

With Michigan State football season coming up fast, I interviewed OL Jake Merritt to hear both his story and preview for the 2024 season.

In a first for this site, I was able to have an interview with current Michigan State football offensive lineman soon-to-be redshirt sophomore Jake Merritt. He is one of the players on the roster who is marked as an unknown, as the walk-on was a late-riser who had to choose between PWO offers from Michigan and Michigan State three years ago.

As a freshman, he went viral for the infamous John C***slam meme. Now, he is coming off of a spring football season where he saw first and second-team reps and is in line for his first collegiate snaps. He called himself a “three-year project” and, like clockwork, he stands to see extensive playing time in the fall for Michigan State.

Before this gets started, I would like to thank Jake for his availability and openness to set up an interview.

Without further ado, Spartan Shadows presents its first Michigan State football player exclusive with Jake Merritt.

Jake, what got you started into football? Did your dad have you try it, was it interest from video games and/or watching it on TV?

It was a mix of both my dad and my own interest. My dad played offensive line at Eastern Michigan alongside (current teammate) Brennan Parachek’s dad. That was cool being able to hear about that. Football was always a big part of my life and my family’s life.

It was in the blood prior to me being here on earth. There were always games on all weekend, and, being a bigger kid growing up, I naturally gravitated towards it.

As a follow up to that, was there a moment in either high school or youth ball growing up where you realized “I want to pursue this at the next level and try for a career in it,” whether a college one or NFL, looking into the future? 

Without a doubt. I can actually recall being in third grade. It was my first time ever playing football in pads, outside of flag. I remember telling myself then. Hearing about my dad, seeing how people reacted to him, and playing it myself, I wanted to play Division 1 college football. I never really thought past it until I got older, but when I was in third grade, I was very dead set on making it to the next level collegiately. The goal was always to play Division 1.

I was fortunate enough to have a speed coach, Troy Burrell, and he would always tell me that I moved very different than the average big guy. He always said, “Man you’re running around like a running back, but you’re as big as you are.”

So just having certain intangibles outside of football, whether it be coordination and speed work, set me apart.

Was there any film you would watch growing up for specific techniques once you realized you were going to be a lineman? Were there any techniques or film you watched for people to model your game off of? 

I spent the most time, in the sense of technique-watching, utilizing videos by former NFL O-lineman Scott Peters. He played in the NFL for about seven years. For the past couple of years, he was the Browns’ offensive line assistant coach and just became the New England Patriots’ O-line coach. After he played in the NFL, he became unreal in judo and MMA and basically has a PHD in leverage which is huge for O-linemen. It made a ton of sense to me, being able to use your body and the physics behind your body to help defeat certain moves and whatnot.

He has a website where you can go and watch a bunch of different techniques (Tip of the Spear) that he’s made. Growing up that was one of the biggest things I watched.

If we’re talking current players to model off of, I always loved watching David Bakhtiari of the Packers. For another, Lane Johnson (of the Eagles) is just a beast.

So, with a D1 offer and other schools expressing interest, why Michigan State football?  

So, I definitely took a chance on myself.

But my decision to come to MSU was mainly because I felt extremely comfortable here. It obviously didn’t hurt that my two older brothers, Mark and Michael, went here as well. But, coming in, I felt great with Coach Kap at the time, I thought it was the right move.

Even with the staff changes, I’m still extremely happy with my decision, and if Coach Michalczik had been here when I was a freshman, I still believe I would’ve ended up here. Both my O-line coaches have been fantastic and I’m extremely lucky.

(It was a mix of) having my two brothers be alumni, feeling like here was home, and feeling comfortable around everybody at the time.

Once MSU you offered you the chance to be a preferred walk-on, it shut down your recruiting, would you say?

Absolutely. I remember thinking about my middle brother who was still here and my eldest brother who graduated from MSU, I thought it would be cool if I was able to follow suit. I felt like even if I never played football, MSU was the school I would have chosen.

Once I realized the football thing was starting to make some sense, it started to come together. I said, this is a no-brainer. This is what I’ve always wanted.

I remember my freshman year of high school, my dad was like, “Man, how cool would that be if all three of you guys were to end up going there and you were able to play ball?” I had said that would be a dream come true. It was totally surreal, I could not believe it.

As a walk-on, how would you describe that mentality?

I truly think it helps and serves even past football. There’s a sense of having a chip on your shoulder. You’re not included in every conversation when it comes to talking money and whatnot. But to the same extent, it’s one of those things that molds you and builds you to always stay on your toes and continue to stay hungry. That’s one of those things that has now become a part of my DNA and I’ll be able to continue to use the rest of my time here and the rest of my life.

To me, there was just no doubt in my mind this is the path I want to be on, this is the process I want to go with. Just having the confidence in myself at that point and still to this day is what’s led me to firmly and confidently believe that I will achieve what I want to do with this game.

After your first game on campus, you went viral, in a way that no one, especially yourself, would see coming. The infamous “John C***slam” meme was born. What was your initial reaction when you saw it? 

I was driving back with my parents after the first game, and they came back to the apartment for a few minutes. My buddy had texted me a picture of a screenshot, where he said, “Yo, my older brother just sent me this. What’s this about?”

I didn’t mind it at all and put no thought into it. I just started laughing. At that time, it had a little over 100 likes. I thought it was funny.

So, the next morning, I just remember my phone being on my nightstand just kept buzzing and I was thinking, “What is this?’” I just see from Twitter 99 notifications and it was then, “Oh boy.” I saw 10,000 likes and my face blowing up everywhere. I told my family, “I have no idea what this is about, but I’m gonna hit the hay for a couple of other hours before the Sunday team stretch.”

Then it was up to 50,000, I mean it jumped 40K in an hour and a half. I got out of my car (at the MSU facilities) and one of my teammates had made a comment to me, “Oh, what’s up, C***slam?” A lot of guys, especially on the defense, and not even ones that were here when it happened, still call me by that. Coach Kap called me C-Slam for forever. He would never say the full name.

I’d be out for dinner with a friend on Grand River (Avenue) and someone would walk up and take a picture, asking “Are you him?” I was getting noticed all over.

I can’t sit here and act like I love it, but, to the same extent, there’s nothing I can do about it. It wasn’t that I was mad about it, it’s all fun and games. It was inevitable and you got to take it on the chin and roll with it. I’m obviously hoping one day, people remember me as Jake Merritt and not that. I hope one day I could turn around the reputation (of the meme). I was able to make some money off of it from an NIL shirt deal, though.

One big element that you bring to the table is your flexibility and you’ve said that the position coaches at MSU have also said that. Would you say that’s a main way that you might be sticking out? 

Yeah, I would say that’s one of my prominent intangibles. It is more dramatic than the other ones when you’re comparing me across the board. I can put myself into certain positions that many of my teammates in the O-line room, or other people that are my size around the world, couldn’t do. Since I was a young kid, I’ve had a different edge in the flexibility sense. I imagine I got it from my mom, my dad is definitely not that way (laughing).

It’s extremely important, especially being an offense lineman. We’re required to put ourselves in certain body positions that don’t always fit our builds. To have that mobility and stretch in certain spots gives you an advantage. When we’re talking about battling in a trench war against the defensive line, you want to use every advantage you can.

What has changed since you stepped foot on campus as a freshman to where you’re in this position to be battling for major playing time 2.5 years later? 

The biggest thing that changed for me was physically maturing. And, this might sound funny, but I am just starting to have to shave my face every so often. I would bet most of the o-lineman I came in with could have had a full beard during 10th grade.

I was a late bloomer, so it was harder for my body to reap all the benefits of the weight room and put on good weight until that kicked in. The good news is that the physical maturity is starting to come and I like how my body is responding.

A big thing too is the technique. Being able to work with my teammates and with other coaches. I’ve worked with former NFL legendary offensive line coach Jim McNally and my dad has a good relationship with former Denver Bronco All-Pro offensive guard Louis Vasquez. I was able to meet Louis and he was able to help my technique. Just being able to talk to him, even past working technique with him. Having him look at me and tell me, “Dude, you can do this.” Hearing it from a guy that was blocking for Peyton Manning and winning a Super Bowl, that was a big confidence boost.

What’s new with this new staff and a new positional coach, Coach Michalczik?

The first thing is the whole staff was just much different walking in. It was bizarre, transitioning staffs. The Penn State game ended and then, that following Monday, we walked into the same meeting rooms and there were new coaches shaking our hands and getting to know us. What I will say is they did a fantastic job. They were able to merge in and make good relationships and start this out the right way.

Coach M looked at us after we had a pretty rough scrimmage our first scrimmage. It was prior to the showcase, during spring ball and we walked in that following Monday and the first thing he said was, “Well, that sucked.” Then he goes, “So what are we going to do differently?”

It was, “Listen, that wasn’t it. That was not that. That’s not us. And I know for a fact, and I think we can all agree we’re much better than what we did on Saturday. But let’s be real. We got things to clean up. And I hope that you know this at least opens our eyes to the work we got to get done and what it’s going to take for us to get where we want to go. I think you know just that.”

As for his teammates and the impact of the new Michigan State football staff on team morale:

I’m lucky to have really good teammates that are constant. My apartment door almost always stays open. People are in and out here all day. Even on our call, I’ve had two people knock on the door and I’ve had to wave them off. I love this team right now. Even the very new transfers are part of how we all are so tight knit and cool. Some guys are at the pool right now. We are always getting together, hanging out.

When I first got here as a freshman, our freshman class got pretty tight. But there wasn’t that amongst the whole team. This team is a little different. It’s been a blast. It’s a ton of fun. I’m lucky and we’re all lucky to have the guys around us that we do.

I’m telling you, this next year is going to be a whole different story than last year.

We’ve seen a ton of transfer portal action, with (2023 teammates) Spencer Brown and Ethan Boyd going to Oklahoma and Colorado. Has, or was, there ever been any temptation to hit the portal to try for maybe a scholarship, or see what deal in the portal could get? 

You know, I think for me — I never once wanted to or intended on leaving. The money has never really been my goal. I’m here to play ball and this is my dream school. That wasn’t really up for debate for me. I didn’t even consider it. My thoughts were, listen, if the new staff is willing to keep me and believe in me, I’m staying. I want to just try my shot here and do what I can. Plus, I got some of my best friends here that I’ve met through team. It made no sense to think about leaving.

Before a game, what do you listen to in the locker room? What’s on “Jake Merritt’s game day tunes?”

Music is a big part of my life. Actually, I picked up a guitar in March and have gotten pretty decent. I also used to DJ a little in high school, I still mess around with it for fun.

They say past 128 beats per minute is supposed to raise your heart rate and your endorphins, making you feel more inclined to feel positive and better. I listen to some house music or like EDM music, especially some of the ones from my childhood that I loved growing up.

For specific songs, “Lose Yourself” by Eminem. I was listening that song before the spring game and it always gives me chills. This is what I was listening to when I was younger, dreaming of being in these positions. Now, I’m here and I’m doing it, it was full circle. If there was a “walk-up” song I could have, it would be either that or “ili” by TroyBoi. It’s a funky song. I like it.

Are there any superstitions you have before a game? Any rituals?

I’m not someone who has a whole lot of superstitions or things of that nature. I just remind myself that at the end of the day, I’m putting this all in God’s hands and He knows what my next moves are going to be. All I can do is just go out there, play my game, react and pray to God the people around me are going to be safe and sound. The only “ritual” I did in high school was I would always walk around the field and walk to the 50 and say a prayer. I never want anyone to go down on either side of the ball, on either team. I want it to be clean and I pray for a clean game.

On game days, I always pray with “Big Dooley” Kristian Phillips prior to the game, usually right after warm-ups and right before kickoff. We’ll take a knee.

In an ideal world where you can pick one business or brand to sponsor you, what would it be?

What would be really cool would be a car deal, any spot willing to let me drive around a sweet truck, preferably a big truck. That said, the biggest thing for me though, if there was anything I would want to do (with NIL money), it would be to open a gym in a higher risk area where kids don’t always have these outlets or places to train and learn.

Furthermore, have that as a nonprofit and free of charge for people to come in as an after-school program. It is for kids working out and people that are going to be teaching them the right techniques, and also a good lifestyle. From lifting techniques to speedwork drills, there would also be an academic and leadership curriculum.

My dad said to me when growing up, “You are very fortunate to kind of have an unfair advantage, so I want you to begin to think about how you can pay it forward.” He would help me pay for things to get better, whether it be driving me down to a camp in Indiana to get exposure, getting a speed coach, or work with a great coach on technical aspects. I want to give back and give things I was fortunate and blessed to have to kids who don’t have that opportunity. If I could put a name on the gym or performance center, I would call it “The Unfair Advantage” and put it in an area where a lot of kids don’t have the same things that I got.

That’s one of my biggest dreams and I’d rather have that than a sponsor deal with a car company to be honest.

My thoughts, post-interview:

First off, I would like to thank GLF for helping get me into contact with Jake Merritt to have this interview.

This interview provided me a glimpse into the life of a walk-on, and, better yet, a chance to really get to know Jake. I came into the interview not knowing what to expect, and I was blown away by everything. By the end, it was a chat between two friends more than an interview.

On top of being a great person to talk to, Jake is a player we will hear a lot more on in the coming fall. Including transfers Luke Newman and Tanner Miller, Merritt is one of only 10 linemen who were practicing or playing college football last season. While that could be called a cause for concern, it is a cause for opportunity. He can seize that opportunity and be the next walk-on to starter (to potential star) on the Michigan State football roster. While the staff did not draw him in with the story of Jack Conklin, Jake said that he sees Conklin’s name enough in the facility to know what that walk-on chance means and that he has a ton of respect for him. Expect to see a lot more of the redshirt sophomore throughout summer and into the fall.

Not only was I blown away by the interview and Jake’s character, but the insight into this team certainly gives me a ton of hope for next season. Despite all the changes at Michigan State in the last nine months, this team is united in their goals and united as a team for next fall.

As said by Jake, “this next year is going to be a different story” than last season.