Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Last updated

Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Commanders vs. Bengals - 54752526413.jpg
Croskey-Merritt with the Washington Commanders in 2025
No. 22 – Washington Commanders
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (2001-04-12) April 12, 2001 (age 24)
Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:208 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school: Sidney Lanier (Montgomery)
College:
NFL draft: 2025: 7th round, 245th pick
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt (born April 12, 2001) is an American professional football running back for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama State Hornets, New Mexico Lobos, and Arizona Wildcats. Croskey-Merritt was selected by the Commanders in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Contents

Early life

Croskey-Merritt was born in Montgomery, Alabama, on April 12, 2001, later attending Sidney Lanier High School. [1] He was rated as a zero-star recruit and committed to play college football for the Alabama State Hornets. [2]

College career

Alabama State

In 2022, Croskey-Merritt rushed 120 times for 526 yards and four touchdowns. [3] In four years with the Hornets, he rushed for 1,164 yards and 13 touchdowns. [4] After the 2022 season, Croskey-Merritt entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal. [2]

New Mexico

Croskey-Merritt transferred to play for the New Mexico Lobos. [5] In week 13 of the 2023 season, he ran for 204 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Fresno State. [6] In the 2023 regular season finale, Croskey-Merritt rushed for 233 yards versus Utah State. [7] During the 2023 season, he ran 189 times for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns and hauled in eight receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown, [2] earning second-team all-Mountain West honors. [8] After the season, Croskey-Merritt entered into the NCAA transfer portal. [9]

Arizona

Croskey-Merritt originally transferred to play for the Arizona Wildcats, however he would later flip to play for the Ole Miss Rebels, before again joining Arizona. [2] Due to eligibility issues stemming from a NCAA discrepancy regarding his jersey number 21 being used by another player after redshirting as a freshman at Alabama State in 2019, he appeared in just one game in 2024 where he rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown. [10] [11] Croskey-Merritt declared for the 2025 NFL draft following the season. He played in the 2025 East–West Shrine Bowl, where he rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns and was named its offensive MVP. [12]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 10+1⁄4 in
(1.78 m)		206 lb
(93 kg)		31+3⁄4 in
(0.81 m)		9 in
(0.23 m)		4.45 s1.50 s2.59 s4.44 s7.28 s41.5 in
(1.05 m)		10 ft 4 in
(3.15 m)		17 reps
All values from Pro Day [13] [14]

Croskey-Merritt was selected by the Washington Commanders in the seventh round (245th overall) of the 2025 NFL draft. [15] He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 9, 2025. [16]

Personal life

Croskey-Merritt prefers to be called Bill. He took the nickname after the titular character from the children's television series Little Bill for having a near-bald hairstyle in his youth. [17] [18]

References

  1. ↑ Brugler, Dane. "The Beast: 2025 NFL Draft Guide" . The Athletic . The New York Times . Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Kassim, Ehsan (June 5, 2024). "New Mexico RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt flips from Ole Miss football to Arizona". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  3. ↑ Reider, Sean. "Best back in the country? How Jacory Croskey-Merritt is making the most of his opportunity at UNM". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  4. ↑ Londergan, Joe. "TRANSFER PORTAL: New Mexico RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt Flips Commitment To Ole Miss". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  5. ↑ Reider, Sean. "Jacory Croskey-Merritt named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  6. ↑ Reider, Sean. "UNM downs Fresno State behind Jacory Croskey-Merritt's career day". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  7. ↑ Spears, Justin. "Former New Mexico RB Jacory Merritt transfers to Arizona". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  8. ↑ Reider, Sean. "Stay? Go? Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Devon Dampier committed to Lobos until next coaching hire". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  9. ↑ Reider, Sean. "Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Lobos leading rusher, enters transfer portal". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  10. ↑ Nakos, Pete. "Arizona RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt still waiting on NCAA decision". On3.com. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  11. ↑ Cohen, Matt (August 2, 2025). "Jacory Croskey-Merritt has fans' attention, seeks Commanders roster spot". The Washington Post . Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  12. ↑ Spears, Justin (January 30, 2025). "Former Arizona RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt shines in East-West Shrine Bowl". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  13. ↑ Spears, Justin (March 7, 2025). "Arizona RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, other Wildcats shine at Big 12 Pro Day". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Jacory Croskey-Merritt College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  15. ↑ Spears, Justin (April 26, 2025). "Washington Commanders draft Arizona RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt in seventh round". Tucson.com. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  16. ↑ Selby, Zach (May 9, 2025). "Commanders sign Lane, Medrano, Croskey-Merritt to rookie deals". Commanders.com. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  17. ↑ Spears, Justin (June 5, 2024). "'Swiss-army knife' RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt re-joining Arizona Wildcats". Arizona Daily Star . Retrieved May 12, 2025. Croskey-Merritt is nicknamed "Bill" after the cartoon "Little Bill."
  18. ↑ Manning, Bryan (May 12, 2025). "How did Commanders' rookie get unique nickname?". Commanders Wire. USA Today. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
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