Phillip Merling

Although being picked 32nd overall, Merling is considered a second-round pick due to the involvement of the New England Patriots in the Spygate Scandal, resulting in the loss of their first round pick.

Phillip Blaine Merling (born April 19, 1985) is a former American football defensive end.

It marked the first time since 2001 that a Clemson player was named ACC Player of the Week three times.

Merling played tight end and defensive end at Fork Union Military Academy in 2004.

He totaled 38 catches for 647 yards and five touchdowns on offense and on defense he added five sacks, 51 tackles, and eight pass breakups.

He had 20 catches for 430 yards and four scores as a senior and totaled 96 tackles and thirty four sacks as a senior.

For that performance he was the MVP at Fork Union.

After his senior year at Cordova High School, in Cordova, Tennessee, he played in the Tennessee/Kentucky All-Star game.

He was also First-team All-state and All-region as a senior at Cordova High School.

He played tight end and defensive end and helped his team reach the 6A state play-offs.

Phillip had 9 quarterback sacks, 10 pass knock downs, 4 caused fumbles, 7 tackles for loss and he had 28 pass receptions for 415 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Prior to Fork Union, Merling attended Calhoun County High School in Saint Matthews, SC, for three years.

Merling was also All-conference, All-region, and All-area in basketball as a sophomore and junior.

He averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds as a senior and averaged 15 points and 13 rebounds as a junior.

Merling appeared in 38 games at Clemson, starting his final 26.

He delivered 146 tackles (99 solos), 12 sacks for minus 80 yards, 31 stops for losses totaling 152 yards and 45 quarterback pressures.

Merling played 271 snaps during his true freshman season in 2005.

He started all 13 games of the 2006 season, finishing with 46 total tackles on Clemson's top-16 total and scoring defense.

Merling had had 10 tackles for loss, second-most on the team behind Gaines Adams.

Merling also recorded three sacks, 20 quarterback hurries and one forced fumble that year.

In 2007, he recorded 78 total tackles (first among defensive linemen), including 17 tackles-for-loss and seven sacks.

He was instrumental to the Tigers’ top 10 national ranking in scoring and total defense.

Was voted Second-team All-ACC for his efforts.

He was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week three times, more than any other ACC player.

He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

He played college football at Clemson University.

He was also a member of the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins.

However, on April 25, 2008, Merling had a private "pro day" for scouts and "performed well".

Merling worked out hard for about 45 minutes.

"The kid's a pretty safe pick," one scout said.

"He's not going to get outflanked," another said, referring to Merling's stoutness at the point of attack.

No numbers have been released from the workout.

Height: 6'4½" Weight: 271 lbs

40-yard time: 4.63, 4.73, 4.84 (pre-combine)

225-pound bench press: 17 reps

Merling was selected 32nd overall in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.

In Week 17 of the 2008 season, he intercepted a Brett Favre pass and returned it for a touchdown, helping the Dolphins clinch the 2008 AFC East Division championship.

Won the 12th Man Award for the defense as a freshman and was a Second-team freshman All-America defensive end by Rivals.com.

Merling underwent a successful laparoscopic by athletic pubalgia surgeon Dr. William Myers to repair a sports hernia.

As a result, he did not participate in most drills at the combine or the Clemson Pro day due to his recovery from surgery.