MONTCLAIR--Defensive lineman Chris Merkle became the second Red Hawk to join with the Arena Football League this season when the All-American signed with the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings for the remainder of the season on July 6.
Merkle made his debut with the Battle Wings on July 3 in Bossier-Shreveport’s loss to Oklahoma City making one tackle. The Battle Wings are Merkle’s second club this year. He also played one game with the Chicago Rush in June.
Merkle led the Red Hawks with eight sacks in 2009 in addition to 80 total tackles as he was named to the D3Football.com All-America Third Team.
Merkle, an NJAC Defensive Player of the Week selection, also accumulated 18.5 tackles for loss (of 81 yards) and two forced fumbles. Merkle finished 19th overall in tackles in the NJAC and was second in tackles for loss, third in sacks and sixth in fumbles caused. In eight of 11 games this season, Merkle collected six or more tackles, including a season-high 11 against Brockport. He also became the first MSU player since Shawn Roberts in 1997 to record four sacks in a game as he posted that numbers in a win over Morrisville State.
In his two seasons with MSU he appeared in 22 games collecting 132 tackles, 73 of those unassisted. In addition he registered 18.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks while forcing three fumbles and recovering two. Merkle was also named All-NJAC in 2008 after helping Montclair to an 8-3 record and a berth in the ECAC South Central Bowl.