Courtesy of Merrimack Athletics

Following a challenging 4-8 season, Head Coach Mike Gennetti and his staff return to Duane Stadium for spring practice. The focus now shifts to internal competition that will define the program’s trajectory heading into a 2026 season that includes high-profile match ups Wake Forest and Delaware.

The Warriors will have a quarterback competition as well several players competing to fill spots along both lines, the secondary and the skill positions on offense. Merrimack is talented but inexperienced so this is an important spring for them.

Here are three areas to watch this spring.

1. Quarterback Competition: The most pressing question in North Andover this spring is who will take the reins of Aynsley Rosenbaum’s offense. With the departure of last year’s starter, Ayden Pereira, the door has swung wide open for a revamped quarterback room. UMass transfer AJ Hairston Jr., a sophomore who joined the program via the transfer portal, enters spring ball with significant buzz as a high-upside playmaker capable of stretching defenses. However, he will be pushed by a mix of established roster depth and intriguing newcomers. Cole Meehan returns with a year of system knowledge under his belt, looking to prove he can provide the consistency the coaching staff craves. Adding to the intrigue are freshman signees Casey Grusser, a highly touted prospect from New Jersey known for his play-extending mobility and leadership and Jake Attaway a decorated dual threat quarterback from Hudson, Massachusetts and Phillips Exeter.

The staff is not just looking for the biggest arm; they are searching for the signal-caller who can minimize turnovers and manage a diverse offensive scheme that traditionally relies on a strong rushing component.

2. Figuring Out the Skill Positions: The offensive staff faces a substantial rebuilding project on the perimeter and in the backfield. Merrimack lost its top two receiving threats and its leading rusher from last season, leaving a vacuum of production that must be filled before the spring game on April 17.

At wide receiver, senior Jalen McDonald and redshirt junior Austin Palmer are expected to step into leadership roles, providing veteran targets for the rotating quarterbacks. The coaching staff is also high on the versatility of Michael Robinson, an incoming “athlete” who could see time at multiple spots to exploit mismatches. In the backfield, sophomore Jayden “JJ” Bright will look to build on his freshman flashes, while the staff evaluates a stable of younger backs to see who can handle the physical “bell-cow” duties required for the Warriors’ ground-and-pound identity.

3. Emphasis on Defense: On the other side of the ball, Coach Gennetti—who continues to have a heavy hand in the defensive play-calling—has prioritized length and disruption. The Warriors’ defense was a bright spot last season, particularly in third-down situations, and the spring goal is to maintain that statistical dominance despite personnel changes.

Co-Defensive Coordinator Gee White is focused on retooling a defensive line that has historically been among the best in the region at getting to the quarterback. The addition of freshman Brian Guerrero, a Maryland All-State selection, provides an immediate infusion of speed off the edge. In the secondary, the arrival of transfer Ayden Bowe brings much-needed veteran experience to the defensive backfield. Bowe’s ability to play man coverage and his history of pass breakups make him a central figure in a unit that is being challenged to play even more aggressively this spring.

What We Are Watching This Spring: As the practices lead up to the annual Spring Football Game, the coaching staff is closely monitoring the “buy-in” on the new defensive wrinkles and the chemistry between the new quarterbacks and their revamped receiving corps. With a schedule that features several CAA opponents and a trip to an ACC stadium in the fall, the physical toll of spring ball is being managed carefully. The primary objective remains identifying the 22 starters who can withstand a grueling 11-game stretch, with a specific eye on how the young offensive line gel alongside the new faces at the skill positions.