95  Patrick Mertens
	Class: Sophomore Hometown: Sterling, Colo. High School: Sterling Height / Weight: 6-5 / 280 Position: Defensive Tackle

UW This Season: Patrick Mertens enters his second season as one of UW's starting defensive tackles this fall. The sophomore, along with fellow tackle Mike Purcell, will anchor a line that returns all four starters from last season. Mertens was one of UW's and the nation's top freshmen during the 2010 campaign.

2010: Mertens took advantage of UW's change from a 3-4 base defense to a 4-3 to earn the nod as one of the Cowboys' starters at defensive tackle. He made the most of the opportunity by collecting 39 tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks in 12 starts. Mertens' top showing of the season was a seven-tackle effort versus Air Force, while he also collected five stops against Boise State and San Diego State. He notched his two sacks of the season versus Colorado State. At the team's year-end banquet, Mertens was named UW's Freshman of the Year. He also earned a spot on Phil Steele's Second Team Freshman All-America squad.

2009: Redshirted.

High School: Mertens had a stellar high school career at Sterling High School. As a senior, he earned all-state and all-conference honors and was Sterling High's Defensive MVP. As a junior, he also earned both all-state and all-conference honors, while being selected as his team's offensive and defensive MVP. As a sophomore, he earned honorable mention all-conference accolades. His football coach was Mark Bauder. Mertens' athletic ability was also showcased on the basketball floor where lettered all four years of high school. He was an honorable mention all-conference selection following both his junior and senior seasons. He was also named to the honor roll throughout high school.

Personal: Born Oct. 20, 1990 in Sterling. He is the son of Deb and Darrel and has an older sister, Lindsey. He is majoring in agricultural business.