Brandon Meriweather attended Apopka High School in Apopka, Florida where he was a three-sport athlete as a member of the football, basketball, and track teams. As a defensive back, Brandon was a three-time first team all-metro, two-time first team all-district, and two-time first team all-state selection. He was selected as the team’s defensive team captain by his teammates prior to his senior season. As a senior he recorded 115 tackles, 6 sacks, and he returned 4 kickoffs for touchdowns, leading his team to a state championship. He also played a little option quarterback his final season at Apopka. He was considered to be one of the top defensive back prospects in the nation and was selected to play in the Florida-Georgia all-star game following his senior season. He was recruited by schools such as Florida, Florida State, and South Carolina, but he opted to attend the University of Miami instead. He saw action in three games during the 2002 season, finishing with 3 tackles before suffering a season ending ankle injury. Brandon applied for and received a medical redshirt for the season. He saw action in all 13 games the following season, primarily as a reserve safety and special teams player. He finished the season with 22 tackles, 5 pass break-ups, and 1 interception. He earned a starting job as a sophomore, totaling 62 tackles, ½ sack, 2 forced fumbles, 5 pass break-ups, and 2 interceptions in seven games as a starter. He did play in the other five games but was limited due to a shoulder injury. Meriweather was named the team’s “hardest hitter” for the 2004 season. Prior to his junior season, Brandon suffered a hamstring injury which caused him to miss the first game of the season. He went on to start the last 11 games of the season, leading the team in tackles with 115 stops on the year. He also had career highs in sacks (1), forced fumbles (2), pass break-ups (7), and interceptions (3). He was named second team all-ACC for his play as a junior.

Brandon Meriweather is a versatile player who has started at both safety positions during his time at Miami. He has a great deal of experience having started the past three seasons for the Hurricanes. He has good size and is a tremendous athlete. He is a good cover safety who can be effective in both man and zone coverages. He has good range, fluid hips, and outstanding hands. He is an extremely hard hitter who will punish receivers who dare to go across the middle in front of him. Meriweather was named Miami’s “hardest hitter” following the 2004 season. Not only is he a good coverage safety, but he is also a solid run defender as well. He takes good angles to the ball carrier and is a solid tackler who displays good technique. Meriweather is a player who doesn’t get beat very often; however, he will get burned from time to time due to his aggressive style of play. He does have the recovery speed to makeup for some of his mistakes, however that may not be the case as often at the next level. He needs to work on being more physical against receivers and he has a difficult time getting off blockers in run support. Brandon has had some durability issues, having missed the majority of the 2002 season due to an ankle injury. A shoulder injury limited him during the final five games of the 2004 season and he missed the first game of the 2005 campaign due to a hamstring injury. Brandon Meriweather is versatile player who can play both safety positions and should become an impact player at the next level. He has improved every year and should continue to do so in the future. He is a true “playmaker” who should be one of the top defensive backs selected in the 2007 NFL draft.