The evidence continues to mount that the Washington Commanders may have struck gold with rookie running back and seventh round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt. They may have also locked down their run game for the next few years.
The latest evidence came with Croskey-Merritt — who goes by “Bill” — being named Pepsi Rookie of the Week for an NFL-leading fourth time this season.
“New year, same Bill,” the Commanders wrote on their official X account on Thursday, January 1.
“Not once, not twice, not thrice but, for a 4th time, Jacory ‘Bill’ Croskey-Merritt was named the Pepsi Rookie of the Week,” Commanders reporter Ben Standig wrote on X. “He’s the only rookie to win multiple times this season.”
Croskey-Merritt’s latest honor comes after he went off for 105 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on just 11 carries in a 30-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in a Week 17 Christmas Day game, including a thrilling, 72-yard touchdown run.
Netflix Broadcast Gets Crazy Moment on TD Run
Croskey-Merritt’s 72-yard touchdown run was a case of perfect timing for the Netflix broadcast team as it happened at the exact moment former Commanders NFL All-Pro running back Clinton Portis was brought onto the broadcast.
“Jacory Croskey-Merritt 72-yard TOUCHDOWN,” NFL influencer Dov Kleiman wrote on X. “The Commanders drafted a superstar.”
Neftlix’s cameras showed Portis, who joined remotely, wildly pumping his fist in the air as Croskey-Merritt ran for the score.
“I come on (the broadcast), he goes for 70!” Portis said. “I truly think this young man is special … he’s on the verge of being a big time player and I know I will be cheering for him the whole way. I think it was a steal to get him (in the seventh round).”
The Commanders, who fell to 4-12 with the loss to the Cowboys, have one regular season game remaining when they travel to face the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in Week 18.
Rookie Exceeded Expectations in Dismal Season
As the No. 245 overall pick, there were few expectations of Croskey-Merritt, and he responded to the tune of 776 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns while averaging 4.8 yards per carry in 16 games with just 6 starts.
Croskey-Merritt had a circuitous path to making an NFL roster. He spent his first 4 years at HBCU Alabama State but only played 3 seasons because of the pandemic. He transferred to New Mexico to play in 2023, where he had a breakout season with 1,190 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on the way to being named All-Mountain West Conference.
He only played one game in 2024 with the University of Arizona before an eligibility issue sidelined him — an erroneous one, at that — but earned praise throughout the year for basically staying locked in and serving as a de facto assistant coach.
It was the second 100-yard rushing game of the season for Croskey-Merritt, who had 111 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 14 carries in a Week 5 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
“Jacory Croskey–Merritt has 7 rushing TD in 2025, the most by a 7th-round rookie in the last 30 seasons,” NFL Plus wrote on X following Croskey-Merritt’s first touchdown against the Cowboys.
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