Former University of New Mexico running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt announced his commitment to Ole Miss shortly after the spring transfer portal window opened in the middle of April. However, a wild eligibility saga might lead him to abandon Lane Kiffin and flip (back) to Arizona.
Nothing is official at this point even though it is trending in that direction.
Croskey-Merritt, an Alabama-native, was an unranked recruit who began his career at Alabama State. He used his one-time transfer to join the New Mexico program in 2023 after four years with the Hornets.
It was a breakout year for the 5-foot-11, 204-pound ball-carrier. Croskey-Merritt went for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns on 189 carries. Opposing defenses simply could not bring him down!
The 23-year-old decided to seek one final opportunity on the Power Five level and re-entered the transfer portal as a graduate transfer after his strong senior year with the Lobos. Croskey-Merritt first committed to Arizona back in February. He later flipped to Ole Miss on April 19.
Things have since been chaotic! Eligibility is a question. So is the Rebels’ running back room.
College athletes are granted four years of eligibility. All athletes were granted an additional year of eligibility in 2020 due to the pandemic. Croskey-Merritt had/has five years of eligibility.
Here’s where it gets crazy!
Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt eligible?
Official NCAA stats list Croskey-Merritt as having played eight games in 2019, five games in 2020, 10 games in 2021, 11 games in 2022 and 12 games in 2023. That would be the extent of his eligibility.
With five years down, he would have to enter the NFL’s supplemental draft and turn pro.
However, Croskey-Merritt redshirted as a freshman at Alabama State and played in only four games to preserve that year of eligibility. Once his season ended, he gave his jersey to a teammate. That player played in four additional games wearing his number.
Croskey-Merritt was credited with his Hornets teammate’s carries even though they were not his.
Alabama State coaches have since provided evidence of the unusual jersey swap. They have tapes to prove Croskey-Merritt played in only four games in 2019. He is still eligible!
Meanwhile, there is a lot of chatter about a return to Arizona. Wildcats special teams coordinator Danny Gonzales’ wife posted a picture of her husband with Croskey-Merritt on Friday.
Down in Oxford, Kiffin boasts a stacked running back room. Ole Miss added Logan Diggs, Rashad Amos, Henry Parrish Jr., Domonique Thomas and (for now) Croskey-Merritt through the portal. There might not be enough carries to go around.
As a result, the Rebels might soon lose the former New Mexico star to Arizona even though his social media activity continues to show them love. It’s all very confusing!
Croskey-Merritt’s profile picture features an Ole Miss jersey. He recently liked multiple posts related to Lane Kiffin. He even liked a post that declared him a dark horse candidate to lead the SEC in rushing.
And yet, everybody seems to believe that Jacory Croskey-Merritt is going to flip back to the Wildcats if he has not done already so privately…