Dwelling on the past is generally not a productive use of time, but with each mention of Jacory Croskey-Merritt during the NFL preseason it’s hard not to think about what might have been.
Croskey-Merritt appeared in only one game for Arizona last season, rushing for 106 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, before eligibility concerns kept him out of action. He still managed to get picked in the 2025 NFL Draft, going to the Washington Commanders in the 7th round, and signs are pointing to him starting as a rookie.
Monday night, on a national stage, Croskey-Merritt took the next step toward being Washington’s starter. He ran for 46 yards on 11 carries including a 27-yard touchdown.
In two games this preseason, Croskey-Merritt has rushed for 70 yards on 18 carries and caught three passes for eight yards. Not earth-shattering numbers, but when combined with reports the Commanders are looking to trade Brian Robinson Jr. it’s a strong indication the short-lived Wildcat might be the starter for the season opener Sept. 7 against the New York Giants.
“The film is the film,” UA running backs coach Alonzo Carter said before training camp of Croskey-Merritt. “That film was good enough to get that young man drafted. That was a talent that we didn’t have.”
Croskey-Merritt began his college career at Alabama State in 2019, appearing in three games that season according to Pro Football Focus. He was with the Hornets for four seasons, with only 2021-22 counting toward his eligibility, then after a 1,000-yard rushing performance with New Mexico in 2023 he joined Arizona for his sixth and final season.
But after his big UA debut, against his former team, Arizona was informed by the NCAA that it had received reports Croskey-Merritt did not have a sixth year of eligibility. While that was investigated the Wildcats held him out of games, though Croskey-Merritt continued to practice with the team and served as the scout team running back who would emulate opponents’ ball carriers.
Though he didn’t start and only appeared in 24 of 58 offensive snaps in the 2024 opener, Croskey-Merritt was expected to be a big part of Arizona’s run game. Without him, Quali Conley became the workhorse and finished with 745 yards and eight TDs on 150 carries while Kedrick Reescano ran for 359 yards and a score on 78 attempts.
The Wildcats finished 120th out of 134 FBS teams in rushing, averaging 106.6 yards per game, their lowest season average since 2011.
“I mean, the reality of it is, we didn’t get the job done,” Carter said of last season. “We will get the job done. We don’t even talk about last year. We really reflect on the potential of the group and where it could go.”
Reescano is back for his second season at Arizona and is battling Texas State transfer Ismail Mahdi for the starting job. Both figure to get plenty of touches in new offensive coordinator Seth Doege’s system, as will Portland State transfer Quincy Craig, while freshman Wesley Yarborough has looked great in preseason camp and could see some meaningful snaps.
“It’s deep with with explosive and exciting players,” UA coach Brent Brennan said of the running back room. “I think that’s one of those battles that everyone’s excited to see kind of work its way in fall camp. Each guy brings a little different skill set and a little bit different experience to the table.”
If Croskey-Merritt does start Washington’s opener he’d be the first former UA running back to start an NFL game since Ka’Deem Carey in 2015 with the Chicago Bears. The last to do so as a rookie was Mike Bell with the Denver Broncos in 2006.