Spencer Merritt Class: Senior Hometown: Aurora, Ill. High School: Waubonsie Valley HS Height / Weight: 6-2 / 220 Position: Linebacker Experience: 3L

NEW MEXICO: Fifth-year senior who bring experience and leadership to the position in 2012...played in all 12 games with one start, and was a contributor on special teams as well...a starter at outside linebacker in 2010...added 15 pounds to his frame between 2009-10, but is still one of the Lobos' fastest LBs (4.72 in the 40)...will be one of the top contenders for a starting job.

2011 (JUNIOR): Big contributor off the bench for New Mexico, finishing fifth on the team with 61 total tackles...also had two pass breakups and 0.5 tackles for loss...finished the season with a flourish, colleting 23 tackles in the last three games combined...a season-high nine tackles against No. 8 Boise State in the season finale...had eight and six tackles against UNLV and Wyoming, respectively, in weeks 10 and 11.

2010 (SOPHOMORE): Started every game at linebacker and finished the year with 63 tackles (32 solo and 31 assisted)...ranked fourth on the team in tackles...had a team-high 6.5 TFL for a loss of 24 yards...had a fumble recovery against TCU...recorded his first double-digit tackle performance against UNLV with 10...had at least one tackle in every game.

2009 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Played in 10 games, primarily on special teams, but also saw spot defensive duty while backing up senior standout Clint McPeek...11 tackles (5 solo) on the year...Academic All-MWC.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2008 graduate of Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Ill...first team class 8A all-state performer as senior at this high school located west of Chicago...also Rivals.com all-state pick, logging 122 tackles in 10 games...defensive MVP of the conference for the Warriors and head coach Paul Murphy...a two-year starter on defense and he also played tight end as a junior.

PERSONAL: Born Oct. 23, 1989, in Barrington, Ill...full name is David Allen Spencer Merritt...son of David and Isabella...father is a corporate attorney...older brother, Charles, played defensive tackle at St. Cloud (Minn.) State...Spencer is majoring in Criminology at UNM...has ambitions of working in government law enforcement.