Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt is an American professional football running back for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League. 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, leading all rookies in rushing touchdowns with eight during the season.
Early life
Croskey-Merritt was born in Montgomery, Alabama, on April 12, 2001, later attending Sidney Lanier High School. He was rated as a zero-star recruit and committed to play college football for the Alabama State Hornets.
College career
Alabama State
In 2022, Croskey-Merritt rushed 120 times for 526 yards and four touchdowns. In four years with the Hornets, he rushed for 1,164 yards and 13 touchdowns. After the 2022 season, Croskey-Merritt entered his name into the transfer portal.
New Mexico
Croskey-Merritt transferred to play for the New Mexico Lobos. In week 13 of the 2023 season, he ran for 204 yards and two touchdowns in a win over 2023 [Fresno State Bulldogs football team|Fresno State]. In the 2023 regular season finale, Croskey-Merritt rushed for 233 yards versus 2023 [Utah State Aggies football team|Utah State]. 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, earning second-team all-Mountain West honors. After the season, Croskey-Merritt entered into the transfer portal again.
Arizona
He entered the transfer portal in 2024 as a 3 star transfer. 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. Due to eligibility issues stemming from an 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. Croskey-Merritt declared for the 2025 NFL draft following the season. He played in the 2025 East–West Shrine Bowl, where he was named its offensive MVP after rushing for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
Professional career
Croskey-Merritt was selected by the Washington Commanders in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 9, 2025. Croskey-Merritt earned Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week honors after 10 rushes for 82 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against the New York Giants. In Week 5, He ran for 150 yards and two touchdowns against the Los Angeles Chargers, earning FedEx Ground Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week honors. In the Week 15 win over the Giants, he recorded 96 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. On the Christmas matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, he had a strong performance with 105 rushing yards and two touchdowns. In that game, he had a 72-yard rushing touchdown, which was the fourth overall longest touchdown rush and fifth overall longest single rush in the franchise's history. He finished the 2025 season with 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, with the latter stat being highest among all rookies.
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.