Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Jacory Croskey-Merritt teases what’s next after Commanders' coming-out party

Originally posted on Riggo's Rag | By Dean Jones | Last updated Oct 6, 2025 1:30 PM ET

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is taking the league by storm. Washington Commanders fans were quietly expecting something special from the running back despite his seventh-round billing, and he's delivering the goods so far.

It's been a rapid rise to prominence for the No. 245 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Croskey-Merrit burst onto the scene this summer and left no doubt regarding his status. He's taken this through to the regular season, and the Commanders are gradually increasing his workload along the way.

Croskey-Merritt had a coming-out party versus the Los Angeles Chargers, rushing for 111 yards and two touchdowns from just 14 carries. This sent hype soaring to even greater levels, so the Commanders have to do everything possible to protect the player and keep his feet on the ground.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt fires warning shot after Commanders' coming-out party

Fortunately, Croskey-Merritt has the mindset to minimize complications. He knows there is a lot of hard work ahead, and he's only just scratching the surface of what he might be capable of.

I can make plays when my name is called. Obviously, I've got a lot of work to do. I've got a lot of work to do. I mean, I still feel like I've got a lot more I want to show.Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Bill says he showed he can make plays but still has a lot of work to do pic.twitter.com/8dg9ZqwNXa
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 5, 2025

This is the exact mentality that got Croskey-Merritt this far. He didn't wallow in self-pity when the NCAA revoked his eligibility just one game into his transfer to Arizona. He worked in the gym, played on the scout team, and did whatever it took to stay engaged. That intrigued Adam Peters enough to take a chance on him with his final pick of the draft.

He's been repaid handsomely. And the best part? Croskey-Merritt is not going to revel in his early adulation.

The first-year pro wants more. He wants to cement his status as a pivotal part of Washington's long-term plans. He wants to learn and grow. Croskey-Merritt intends to defy his draft status and become one of the league's most prolific backfield threats. And he'll stop at nothing to achieve these objectives.

It's early days, but the momentum is building astonishingly. Croskey-Merritt's journey to the league was a difficult one. Even so, he's landed in the right place, and it's only made him hungrier to succeed at the sport's pinnacle.

If the same trend continues, Croskey-Merritt's rapid ascent to superstardom will become one of the greatest rags-to-riches stories in franchise history.

This article first appeared on Riggo's Rag and was syndicated with permission.

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