Two Sunlake High School seniors have picked up statewide recognition as the Seahawks close out their regular season.

Running back Nathan Merriman ranks as the No. 29 running back in Florida, the Seahawks' recruiting program announced on X on Wednesday, Nov. 4. Linebacker Blake Daniels ranks No. 23 in the state and No. 300 nationally in total tackles, according to a separate post from the same account.

Neither post identified the organization that compiled the rankings.

Merriman closes season on a tear

Merriman, a senior who plays running back and wide receiver, leads Sunlake with 168.5 rushing yards per game and 12 total touchdowns, 10 of them on the ground, according to MaxPreps.

His best outing came Oct. 30 in a 41-0 road win over KIPP Bold City. Merriman rushed for 297 yards and five touchdowns on 14.9 yards per carry, MaxPreps reported. The Seahawks had been shut out in their previous game.

Merriman also put up 216 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown against Wesley Chapel on Oct. 9, including a 71-yard run. Over his last five games he has averaged 190.6 rushing yards per game, up from 105.8 in his first four, according to MaxPreps.

Daniels anchors defense on both sides of the ball

Daniels, a 6-foot senior outside linebacker and fullback, averages a team-high 12.1 tackles per game. The next-closest Seahawks, Isaiah Feliciano and Daniel Mualam, each average 6.1.

Daniels set a Sunlake single-game tackle record earlier this season. He recorded 21 tackles during a 14-10 road win over Weeki Wachee on Oct. 2, as we reported Oct. 9. He also handles kickoff duties for the Land O' Lakes school.

Season snapshot

Sunlake finished the regular season 5-5 overall and 2-3 in Class 5A, District 7, placing fourth. The Seahawks scored 197 points and allowed 204 across 10 games, according to MaxPreps.

The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) will release its 2026 playoff brackets Nov. 6 at 5 p.m., according to USA Today. First-round games are scheduled for Nov. 13. Whether Sunlake's record earns a postseason berth will be determined when those brackets drop.