Randy Merkel is a retired American soccer midfielder who played professionally in the USL A-League and Major League Soccer.Merkel began his collegiate career in 1995 at the Penn State. He then transferred to the University of Maryland where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1996 to 1998.In February 1997, the Columbus Crew selected Merkel in the third round (thirty-third overall) of the 1999 MLS College Draft.