If you’re a long-time fan of the Washington Commanders, you’re undoubtedly experiencing some déjà vu right now.
Once again, a dynamic young quarterback taken No. 2 overall is making headlines, and a late-round running back who blew up out of nowhere is joining the fray. In 2013 it was Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris.
We already know what Jayden Daniels brings to the table, but it’s Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who goes by ‘Bill‘, who’s quickly become the backbone of the Commanders’ dominant rushing attack.
How did Bill go from a seventh-round pick to leading the league’s best run game?
From Zero Star Recruit to Alabama State Commit
Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s story began in Montgomery Alabama, where his childhood bald head earned him the nickname Bill, inspired by the TV show ‘Little Bill’.
By high school, Croskey-Merrittt started growing more hair on his head but couldn’t get any stars on his recruiting profiles. Overlooked by scouts, he landed at Alabama State as a zero star recruit in 2019.
Bill quietly racked up 1,312 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns over four years at ASU. In 2022, ready for a new challenge, he entered the transfer portal and set his sights on the University of New Mexico.
Moving Through the Transfer Portal
Transferring to UNM proved to be a game changer for JCM. In 2023, he bulldozed his way to 1,190 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, though the Lobos struggled to a 4-8 finish. Bill’s breakout season caught the attention of some bigger programs such as Ole Miss and Arizona, and he ultimately chose to join the Wildcats.
Croskey-Merritt’s momentum stalled in 2024 when eligibility issues limited him to just one game at Arizona. He got to play his old New Mexico team in Week 1 and tallied 106 yards on 13 carries with one touchdown.
Bill spent the remaining 11 weeks staying in shape and preparing to go pro. Once the season ended, his hard work paid off; he reignited his buzz, impressing scouts at Arizona’s pro day and earned offensive MVP honors at the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Bill couldn’t improve his prospect grade past that of a late-round selection. Scouts were concerned about his age, being a 24-year-old rookie, and the fact that he didn’t seem to add much value as a pass catcher didn’t help his case.
https://twitter.com/MadHatter_LJ/status/1975740518132011296
Bill Finds a Home in D.C.
The Washington Commanders selected Bill with the 245th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Bill quickly gained notoriety between fans and D.C. media. It was hard to overlook how he recently had such a dominant season, plus a year to rest up and prepare for the NFL.
Come training camp he started to show flashes of what we (as Commanders fans) all were hoping to find in the RB room. It was impossible for the media to not tweet about Bill every time he stepped out onto the field.
By the second week of the preseason, the front office knew they had to find carries for Bill amid an already crowded running back room, so they shipped Brian Robinson, their leading rusher from 2022-2023, to San Francisco.
Now through five games Jacory Croskey-Merritt has racked up,
43 carries
283 rushing yards (2nd in NFC East)
6.6 yard per carry (1st in NFL)
Four rushing touchdowns (1st among rookies)
The Commanders as a team have rushed for 782 yards, just 31 yards less than the 2012 team led by Robert Griffin III through five games. They currently lead the NFL in yards per game with 156.4 despite being tied for 10th in total rushing attempts.
Croskey-Merritt has his breakout game against the Chargers, with 150 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, leading the Commanders to a win. Time will tell if Bill becomes a one hit wonder, or another legendary halfback written into Washington’s franchise history books.
Leave a comment