Fayetteville State coach Richard Hayes Jr. asked a poignant question during the Broncos’ press conference session at Wednesday’s CIAA media day:
How does a team that finished near the bottom of the conference in points scored and yards gained finish 8-0 in regular season league games?
The big reason? The steady, grinding play of the defensive unit. Fayetteville State allowed just 15.4 points and 261.1 yards per contest in 2023 en route to a sixth-straight appearance in the CIAA title game. Those numbers more than overcame offensive struggles as the Broncos clipped down challenge after challenge on the way back to Salem, Va.
One of the key defenders on that team is back for a last run with the Broncos. North Carolina Football News turns its D2 Spotlight today on redshirt senior defensive back Kolby Merritt, a preseason All-CIAA pick and former Charlotte area prep standout for Z.B. Vance High.
Kolby led Fayetteville State in tackles last season and earned first-team All-CIAA honors. He was named the league’s defensive back of the week after a huge performance against Shaw last Oct. 28. In that game, Merritt had 10 tackles — including seven solo hits — a pair of tackles-for-loss and two sacks. That victory sealed the Broncos latest CIAA latest South Division title.
After the season, FSU players voted Merritt for the 2023-24 Player’s Choice Award.
Merritt will enter the 2024 season having played 30 games at FSU, starting 19. His career numbers: 135 total tackles, 87 solo hits, 13 tackles-for-loss, three pass break-ups.
Draft Diamonds recently called Merritt “one of the most underrated prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.” He’s listed by Draft Diamonds as the No. 6 HBCU prospect, including being the No. 1 HBCU prospect among D2 players.
Merritt, who has an older brother Kenneth who also played at Fayetteville State, says the Broncos have been a great fit for him, athletically and academically. He made the honor roll for the fall 2023 semester.
“I would honestly say coming out of high school I didn’t know much about Fayetteville State,” Merritt said in a recent video interview with Draft Diamonds (see below). “But when I got to campus, I realized they treat every student like family.”
Merritt said he was a “definite no” when asked about transferring from Fayetteville State after a stellar 2023.
“Most guys want to go to the big dogs. Especially out of North Carolina you want to go to UNC, Duke,” he said. “But Fayetteville State is a good program. They’ve been a good program for some time.”
Merritt and the Broncos have been picked to finish third in the CIAA in the preseason. Fayetteville State kicks off the 2024 campaign on Sept. 7 at home against UNC Pembroke.
#0 Kolby Merritt
- Position: Defensive Back
- Height: 6-1
- Weight: 200
- Class: Redshirt Senior
- Hometown: Charlotte
- High School (Previous School): Z.B. Vance HS
- Major: Sports Management
2023 Highlights: Honor-roll student earned first-team All-CIAA for his work on the field for the South Division champions … Led Fayetteville State and finished 12th in the CIAA in tackles with 40 solo hits and 63 total tackles … Recorded six tackles-for-loss, resulting in negative 27 yards … Had two sacks for 11 yards and forced one fumble … Earned CIAA defensive back of the week honors after a 10-tackle game against Shaw.
Other FSU Highlights: Recorded 52 tackles during Fayetteville State’s conference championship season in 2022. Forced a fumble and recorded seven tackles-for-loss … Has an older brother, Kenneth Merritt, who played at Fayetteville State from 2017-22.
High School Highlights: Served as a captain at Vance High as team made a state championship game appearance in 2018. Vance beat a Drake Maye-led Myers Park team for the 4AA West title.
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