Luke Mergott

Duke linebacker Luke Mergott, wearing a white helmet, blue jersey and white pants, smiles, holds his index finger in the air, cradles the football in his arm and celebrates the game-sealing interception to lift Duke to a 42-39 victory against Arizona State in the 2025 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl inside Sun Bowl Stadium.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke linebacker Luke Mergott, wearing a white helmet, blue jersey and white pants, makes a tackle during the 2025 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, which Duke won 42-39 against Arizona State inside Sun Bowl Stadium.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke linebacker Luke Mergott, wearing a white helmet, black jersey and white pants, runs and celebrates with his teammates while holding the ball from a fumble recovery during Duke's regular season finale against Wake Forest.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke linebacker Luke Mergott, wearing a white helmet, black jersey and white pants, runs and holds the ball from a fumble recovery during Duke's regular season finale against Wake Forest.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke linebacker Luke Mergott celebrates with the game ball and teammates following his game-ending interception versus No. 16 Virginia in the 2025 ACC Championship Game.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke linebacker Luke Mergott, wearing a white helmet, white jersey and white pants, lays on the field with the ball in his arms following his game-winning interception versus No. 16 Virginia in the 2025 ACC Championship Game.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke linebacker Luke Mergott and defensive coordinator Jonathan Patke celebrated the Blue Devils' first outright ACC Championship since 1962 as Mergott holds the ball from his game-winning interception versus No. 16 Virginia.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke linebacker Luke Mergott, wearing a blue helmet, blue jersey and white pants, readies for a snap against No. 20 Virginia on November 15, 2025.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke linebacker Luke Mergott, wearing a black helmet, blue jersey and black pants, makes a tackle during the Blue Devils' game against No. 12 Georgia Tech.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke linebackers Elliott Schaper and Luke Mergott combine on a tackle during Duke's 45-21 victory at Cal on October 4, 2025.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke linebacker Luke Mergott looks to run towards the backfield during his first career start, at Syracuse on September 27, 2025.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Linebackers Luke Mergott and Jaiden Francois, wearing all black Duke uniforms, combine for a tackle against NC State on September 20, 2025.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke linebacker Luke Mergott leans forward and gets ready for a snap against Elon.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Luke Mergott waits for a kickoff at No. 5 Miami.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Luke Mergott makes a tackle against UNC.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Luke Mergott awaits a kickoff against UNC.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Luke Mergott runs towards the quarterback at Middle Tennessee.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Position:
Linebacker
Height:
6-3
Class:
Redshirt Junior
Hometown:
Berlin, Md.

2026: Returning starting linebacker … two-time Academic All-ACC selection (2024-25) … in 32 career games (10 starts), has carded 107 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, two INTs, two fumble recoveries, three PBUs and nine QB pressures … thrust into the starting role in week five of the 2025 season due to injuries and thrived, sealing the ACC Championship Game and Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl victories with fourth-quarter interceptions … compiled 2+ tackles on 17 career occasions, 5+ in 10 games and 10+ three times with a career-high 12 against Clemson in 2025 … posted 1.0+ TFL on five occasions with a career-best 1.5 against Georgia Tech and Virginia during the regular season in 2025 … carded 1.0 sack against North Carolina in 2025 … recorded a career-high three QB pressures NC State in 2025 and added two versus Virginia in the ACC Championship Game ... recovered two fumbles against Wake Forest in 2025, tied for the second most in a game in program history … has played 1,151 career snaps.

2025: Academic All-ACC selection ... one of five recipients of the team’s Duke Tough Award, which is presented annually to the football student-athlete who personifies the physical and mental toughness required to be a Blue Devil … played in all 14 games and started the final 10 … with Nick Morris Jr. suffering a season-ending leg injury in week four, moved from primarily reserve and special teams into the starting role in week five and thrived … sealed Duke’s ACC Championship Game and Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl victories with fourth-quarter interceptions … booked 90 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, two INTs, two fumble recoveries, three PBUs and nine QB pressures … carded 6+ tackles in nine games, 10+ in three contests and a year-high 12 at Clemson in helping Duke to its first win in Death Valley since 1980 … led Duke with 63 tackles during ACC games … ranked 12th in the ACC in total tackles and seventh in stops in only conference games … paced Duke and tied for the ACC lead in fumble recoveries in league games with two … booked 1.0+ TFL in five games with a season-high 1.5 versus Georgia Tech and Virginia in the regular season … lone sack was at North Carolina during the fourth quarter to help Duke cement its comeback victory … on the first play of Virginia’s overtime possession in the league title game, intercepted a pass to end the contest … picked off Arizona State’s Jeff Sims with 1:57 to play in the fourth quarter, allowing Duke to run out the clock and claim the bowl crown … recovered two fumbles against Wake Forest, tied for the second most in a game in program history … carded 2+ QB pressures against NC State (3) and Virginia in the ACC Championship Game (2) … on Duke’s ACC Championship Game record chart, owns the most tackles (9) and tied for the second most QB pressures … on Duke’s single-game bowl record charts, tied for first with one interception versus Arizona State and tied for sixth in tackles (10) … on the field for 846 snaps.

2024: Academic All-ACC selection ... experienced action in all 13 games … valuable member of Duke's special teams units ... compiled 14 tackles … registered a year-high four tackles at Middle Tennessee ... recorded two stops against Northwestern, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech … on the field for 258 snaps.

2023: Played in five games against Florida State, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Troy and Wake Forest … compiled three tackles … recorded a season-high two tackles against Pittsburgh … on the field for 47 snaps … enrolled at Duke in January 2023.

PRIOR TO DUKE: Lettered four seasons at Stephen Decatur under head coach Jake Coleman … rated a three-star prospect by ESPN.com and 247Sports.com … listed as the No. 58 outside linebacker in the country by ESPN.com … charted as the No. 16 prospect from the state of Maryland according to ESPN.com … in final three seasons, compiled 154 tackles, 12 sacks and eight INTs … also added 95 receptions for 1,357 yards and 38 TDs … helped Stephen Decatur to a 26-16 record and consecutive playoff appearances … two-time Bayside Conference Defensive Player of the Year pick … three-time First Team All-Bayside Conference and honorable mention all-state choice … also lettered two seasons in baseball and basketball.

PERSONAL: Majoring in psychology while pursuing a certificate in markets and management ... son of Dan Mergott and Amy Fenzel-Mergott … father lettered three seasons in lacrosse at Salisbury University (1993-94-95), helping the Sea Gulls to two NCAA Division III National titles (1994 & 1995), while claiming NCAA Midfielder of the Year and First Team All-America honors in 1995 and Second Team All-America nods in 1994 before his induction into the SU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006 … mother lettered four seasons in women’s basketball and two seasons in women’s soccer at Salisbury University (1991-92-93-94-95-96), earning first team all-region and first team all-conference in 1995-96 and second team all-conference in 1994-95 and finishing sixth on the all-time women’s basketball scoring list (1,477) and fourth on the rebounding chart (991) … grandfather, William Farrell-Fenzel, lettered four seasons in basketball at Loyola University [Md.] (1967-68-69-70), ranking second in career rebounds (879) and rebounding average (11.27), 27th in career free throws made (240) and 42nd in career points (984).