Wendt played at the end position and became the fourth three-time All-American (1934–1936) at Ohio State, following Chic Harley, Wes Fesler, and Lew Hinchman.

Wendt was a native of Middletown, Ohio, the "quiet, smiling and bashful son of a foreman in the steam fitting department of the American Rolling Mills.

Wendt opted instead to accept an offer to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes under head coach Francis Schmidt.

In 1935, Wendt was selected as a first-team All-American by Liberty (based on "a poll of 1521 varsity players in all parts of the country")[4] and the Newspaper Editors Association.

Wendt became a popular figure through the state of Ohio, with newspapers covering the details of his personal life, including his interest in "nature study"[9] and his love of Mexican food:"It's easy enough to see why Merle Wendt is the sort that makes feminine hearts flutter, but why this good-looking captain of the Ohio State university eleven should prefer chili con carne to chicken is beyond us.

"[1]Wendt played on Ohio State teams that defeated the Michigan Wolverines three straight years by a combined score of 93–0.