Arizona running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt highest-rated transfer in Big 12 Conference 

Tony Adame

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Arizona running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt highest-rated transfer in Big 12 Conference  image

Arizona’s first year in the Big 12 Conference could be a memorable one thanks to a solid nucleus of returning talent and a transfer portal running back flying under the radar. 

Pro Football Focus singled out Arizona transfer Jacory Croskey-Merritt as one of the highest-rated transfers in the country after the former New Mexico star graded out at 92.7 percent in 2023 with the Lobos. 

In 2023, Croskey-Merritt rushed for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns for New Mexico and averaged 6.3 yards per carry on the way to being named All-Mountain West Conference as well as being named an honorable mention All-American by College Football News. He was originally committed to play for Arizona in 2024 but flipped to Ole Miss before flipping back to Arizona.  

Croskey-Merritt, 5-foot-11 and 204 pounds, will be at his third college — he played his first four seasons at Alabama State from 2019 to 2022 but never rushed for more than 500 yards in a season. 

Tony Adame

Tony Adame Photo

Tony Adame covers the Big 12 Conference for The Sporting News. He is a graduate of Southern Oregon University and has been a sports journalist for 20 years. He has won APSE Awards for breaking news, games stories and feature writing. He is also the writer and host of the Florida Society of News Editors Award-winning podcast The Sheriff: Murder, Lies & Revenge in Okaloosa County for USA Today/Gannett.