Running back Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt has emerged as the Washington Commanders’ top option between the tackles, to the point that the team traded Brian Robinson to the San Francisco 49ers in late August.
But how familiar are you with the 2025 seventh-round pick who just won the NFL’s Rookie of the Week award?
Croskey-Merritt started his college career at Alabama State (2019–2022), rushing for 1,164 yards and 13 touchdowns at the school before transferring to New Mexico in 2023. He was excellent for the Lobos, rushing for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns.
He entered the transfer portal again and landed at Arizona in 2024, but the NCAA ruled that he shouldn’t have earned redshirt status in 2019, ultimately leaving him ineligible to play for the Wildcats after just one game. He continued to practice with the team, however, hopeful that he would still get a shot at the NFL.
“I kind of knew what I was fighting for,” he told Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post. “I was fighting for moments like this, knowing it was going to come. And when it came, I was going to make sure I was ready.”
Ready indeed. The Commanders selected him with the No. 245 overall pick in April, and he was so impressive over the summer and during the preseason (18 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown in two games) that he shot up the depth chart.
On Sunday, his 10 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown led the Commanders and earned him NFL plaudits. At this point, he seems most likely to lead that backfield, with Austin Ekeler serving as more of a receiving threat and Jeremy McNichols providing depth.
And now you know a bit more about Bill.
