The Washington Commanders rounded out their 2025 NFL Draft class by taking running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Here are five things to know about the newest member of the backfield.
1. He's one of Field Yates' favorite draft picks.
The Commanders only had five picks, so they had to make sure they got as much value as possible out of each player. They kept that strategy all the way down to the seventh round with Croskey-Merritt, and ESPN's Field Yates loves what Croskey-Merritt could bring to Washington.
"Croskey-Merritt had a winding college path that started at Alabama State and ended at Arizona, though eligibility issues limited him to only 13 rushes for the Wildcats in 2024," Yates wrote. "He has a very intriguing combination of size, speed and overall footwork, but he must develop his instincts and vision. He's a moldable player for the Commanders to develop."
With Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler in front of him, there's no need for the Commanders to rush his development. But with the right tutelage, perhaps the Commanders could turn Croskey-Merritt into a steal.
2. He had a breakout season with New Mexico.
Croskey-Merritt had some solid seasons at Alabama State, but he didn't truly put himself on teams' radars until he transferred to New Mexico for an increase in competition. That decision ended up being a good one for Croskey-Merritt, because his one year with the Lobos was the best of his college career.
Croskey-Merritt was one of the catalysts for New Mexico's offense by leading the team with 1,190 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. It was one of the best performances in program history, as his rushing total ranked seventh all-time and touchdown total was third. He became the first player in the Lobos' history to have back-to-back games of 200 rushing yards and was a Second Team All-MWC for his efforts.
Croskey-Merritt graduated with a degree in communications but still wanted to increase his NFL draft stock, so he committed to Arizona to prove himself against an even tougher level of competition.
3. He made the most of a tough year at Arizona.
Things started well enough for Croskey-Merritt at Arizona, as he rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, but questions about his eligibility forced him to miss the rest of the season. "It was pretty rough," Croskey-Merritt said, but he made the most of it by staying active in practice to help his team win.
That effort might not have shown up on the stat sheet, but it stuck out to the Commanders when evaluating him.
"You talk to the people at Arizona, and you talk to him when he was here [for a 30 visit], and they have so much respect for how he stayed engaged the whole way through the season," said Commanders assistant general manager Lance Newmark.
What stood out the most to the Commanders is that his preparation stayed the same, despite not playing a role on Saturdays. That shows a high level of integrity that the front office wanted on their roster.
"I learned that I'm a strong individual...always loved the game, but it challenged me to a different level, and I was ready to take on that talent," Croskey-Merritt said. "I think I did a good job at that."
4. He models his game after Mark Ingram.
Every NFL player has someone they looked up to growing up. For Croskey-Merritt, it was one of the best running backs in Alabama and college football history: Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram.
"Just being tough, being physical, making defenders not want to attack you," Croskey-Merritt said when asked about Ingram. "That's the main thing that I took away from Ingram, and I feel like that's the only way to play the position is just being violent and running with anger."
Ingram had a dominant three seasons at Alabama, rushing for 3,324 yards and 42 touchdowns, including a career-high of 17 in 2009. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 2011 and played in the league for 12 years, earning three Pro Bowls in that span. He retired in 2022 with 8,111 yards, including four 1,000-yard seasons, with 65 rushing scores.
It's way too early to make any assumptions about Croskey-Merritt's career, but if he continues his role model's trajectory, he's also in store for a successful professional career.
5. He was named Offensive MVP in the East-West Shrine Bowl.
It had been a while since Croskey-Merritt had competed in any semblance of an actual game when he was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl. Despite that time off, he handled himself well in the all-star game by rushing for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
For his performance, Croskey-Merritt was named the Offensive MVP.
"It's a blessing just to be up here," Croskey-Merritt said after the game.
It was proof to the NFL, and Croskey-Merritt himself, that he still has much to offer to another team. Newmark even mentioned that performing well in the all-star circuit helped his cause, and the Commanders are excited about what he could offer to their team.
Whatever those plans are, Croskey-Merritt is eager to get things started.
"I would add a variety of talent, whatever they need me at, whether it's special teams or running back," Croskey-Merritt said. "I'm just ready to make this team better."
