Within the 2025 NFL Draft, the Washington Commanders chosen working again Jacory Croskey-Merritt within the seventh spherical (245th general), marking a major milestone within the profession of the previous HBCU standout from Alabama State. Croskey-Merritt’s journey to the NFL is a testomony to his resilience and willpower.
Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Croskey-Merritt started his collegiate profession at Alabama State College, a Traditionally Black School or College (HBCU), the place he amassed 1,164 speeding yards and 13 touchdowns over 31 profession video games. Searching for a chance to showcase his sport on the FBS stage, he transferred to the College of New Mexico in 2023, the place he had a breakout season with 1,190 speeding yards and 17 touchdowns, incomes second-team All-Mountain West honors. In 2024, he briefly joined the College of Arizona however appeared in just one sport attributable to eligibility points. Regardless of restricted play, he showcased his expertise on the East-West Shrine Bowl, speeding for 97 yards and two touchdowns, and incomes MVP honors.
“Eligibility points sidelined Croskey-Merritt for all however one sport in 2024, however his abilities had been on full show on the East-West Shrine Bowl in January,” wrote NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein. “He’s a fast processor with sufficient dimension and spectacular lower quickness to search out yards in a crowded workspace. He has one-cut expertise and the flexibility to interrupt runs sharply throughout the grain when mandatory. He finishes runs with function, too.”
Former HBCU RBs
Croskey-Merritt’s choice follows that of Bhayshul Tuten, one other former HBCU working again from North Carolina A&T, who was drafted earlier within the fourth spherical (104th general) by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tuten’s spectacular faculty profession included over 3,500 speeding yards and 49 touchdowns. He additional boosted his draft inventory with a standout efficiency on the NFL Mix, recording a 40-yard sprint time of 4.32 seconds. ?
The picks of Croskey-Merritt and Tuten spotlight the rising development of homegrown HBCU expertise rising from FBS faculties as polished prospects. Their journeys underscore the significance of the alternatives that HBCUs can present for athletes to develop and showcase their abilities on a nationwide stage.?
As Croskey-Merritt joins the Washington Commanders, he brings a strong working model and a confirmed means to beat adversity. His addition to the roster provides depth to the backfield and continues the legacy of HBCU athletes making their mark within the NFL.
