Merten was a four-year
letterman for the
UCLA Bruins from 1993 to 1996. He won the starting kicking job only four days before the start of his fresman year. As a freshman in 1993, he converted 20 of 25 field goals and 31 of 34 extra points. Merten was named a consensus
All-American for the 1993 season. He scored 12 of 21 field goals and 24 of 26 extra points in 1994. He garnered first-team All-
Pac-10 recognition for the 1996 season. ==Professional career==