Jacory Croskey-Merritt

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.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Croskey-Merritt with the Washington Commanders in 2025
No. 22 – Washington Commanders
Position	Running back
Roster status	Active
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	Alabama State (2019–2022) New Mexico (2023) Arizona (2024)
NFL draft	2025: 7th round, 245th overall pick
Career history
Washington Commanders (2025–present)
Awards and highlights
Second-team All-Mountain West (2023)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 2, 2025
Rushing yards 99 Rushing average 7.1 Rushing touchdowns 1 Stats at Pro Football Reference

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 was named its offensive MVP after rushing for 97 yards and two touchdowns.^[12]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-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 s	1.50 s	2.59 s	4.44 s	7.28 s	41.5 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] Croskey-Merritt earned NFL Rookie of the Week honors after 10 rushes for 82 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against the New York Giants.^[17]

Statistics

NFL statistics

Year	Team	Games		Rushing					Receiving					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Att	Yds	Att	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Fum	Lost
2025	WAS	1	0	10	82	8.2	42	1	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Career		1	0	10	82	8.2	42	1	–	–	–	–	–	–	–

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.^[18][19]