Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s Family: Girlfriend, Children, Parents and Siblings

Last Updated on October 20, 2026 by Tanos Potter

Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s family has been an important source of motivation throughout his journey from Montgomery, Alabama, to the National Football League. The Washington Commanders running back, popularly known as “Bill,” was raised with strong family support, including encouragement from his mother, Charleighdia Merritt. Although he has spoken about his parents, cousins and extended family, he generally keeps details about his romantic relationships and siblings private.

Born on April 12, 2001, Jacory Croskey-Merritt grew up in Montgomery before attending Alabama State University, the University of New Mexico and the University of Arizona. He was selected by the Washington Commanders in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. His rise from an overlooked high school prospect to an NFL running back has attracted considerable attention, but much of his personal family life remains outside the public spotlight.

Who Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s Girlfriend?

As of now, Jacory Croskey-Merritt has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend. The Washington Commanders running back has kept his romantic relationships private, and no reliable public announcement identifies a current partner.

Despite attracting increasing attention following his successful rookie season, Croskey-Merritt has generally focused his interviews and social media activity on football, his teammates, family support and professional achievements.

Unlike some NFL players who regularly share photographs with romantic partners, Croskey-Merritt has not widely publicized details about his dating life.

There is also no confirmed public information establishing that he is engaged.

As of now, his relationship status remains unverified. The absence of a publicly identified girlfriend should not automatically be interpreted as confirmation that he is single.

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt Married?

There is no publicly verified information confirming that Jacory Croskey-Merritt is married.

The NFL running back has not publicly announced a wedding or introduced anyone as his wife in established sports interviews.

His official Washington Commanders biography and college athletics profiles primarily document his football career rather than his romantic relationships.

As of now, no marriage has been publicly confirmed, and his private relationship status remains undisclosed.

Does Jacory Croskey-Merritt Have Children?

There are no publicly verified reports establishing that Jacory Croskey-Merritt has children. He has not publicly announced the birth of a son or daughter or confirmed that he is a father.

Most available information about his family concerns his upbringing in Alabama, his relationship with his parents and the support he received from relatives during his college football career.

While Croskey-Merritt has participated in activities supporting children and families in his hometown, those charitable efforts do not establish whether he has children of his own.

As of now, there is no reliable public information identifying any children belonging to Croskey-Merritt.

Who Are Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s Parents?

Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s mother is Charleighdia Merritt, who publicly discussed her son’s dedication and childhood during a May 2025 interview with WAKA Action 8 News.

His father has also been mentioned in interviews with people who knew Croskey-Merritt during his college football career. However, his father’s full name has not been reliably established in major public reporting.

The running back grew up in Montgomery, Alabama, where his family encouraged his interest in football from an early age.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s Mother: Charleighdia Merritt

Charleighdia Merritt is Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s mother and one of the most publicly documented members of his family.

She gained media attention in May 2025 when her son returned to Montgomery after being selected by the Washington Commanders in the NFL Draft.

During a ceremony at Montgomery City Council, Croskey-Merritt received official recognition for his achievements as a former Sidney Lanier High School athlete.

WAKA Action 8 News interviewed both the player and his mother during the celebration.

Charleighdia explained that her family had always tried to encourage and support its children while helping them pursue their ambitions.

She also remembered Jacory as a respectful, humble and dedicated child who consistently worked toward his goals.

Her comments offered insight into the environment in which the young running back developed his personality and determination.

For Croskey-Merritt, the ceremony represented an opportunity to celebrate his success in front of the community that had supported him since childhood.

His mother was able to witness her son’s transition from a local high school football player to a professional athlete.

Although Charleighdia has occasionally appeared in local media coverage, further information about her occupation, educational background and private activities is limited.

As of now, she remains one of the clearest publicly identified figures in Croskey-Merritt’s family history.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s Father: What Is Known About Him?

Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s father has been mentioned by people familiar with the running back’s upbringing, although his full name has not been reliably established in established sports publications.

In an August 2025 profile published by FOX Sports, former New Mexico running backs coach Kirk Gonzales discussed Croskey-Merritt’s personality and the nickname “Bill.”

Gonzales explained that the player’s parents refer to him by his given name, Jacory, while most teammates, coaches and friends know him as Bill.

That observation offers a rare glimpse into the relationship between the running back and his parents.

However, Croskey-Merritt has not extensively discussed his father’s personal background in widely available interviews.

Information about his father’s occupation, education and involvement in his early football development has not been independently verified.

As of now, his father’s identity remains largely private.

Who Are Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s Siblings?

Jacory Croskey-Merritt has not publicly provided a complete, reliably verified account of his siblings.

Although his mother has spoken about supporting her children, major sports publications and official college football records do not clearly establish the number or names of his brothers and sisters.

The running back has discussed his extended family and the importance of growing up around relatives in Montgomery, but those comments should not be interpreted as confirmation of particular sibling relationships.

Does Jacory Croskey-Merritt Have a Brother?

As of now, there is no independently verified public information identifying a brother of Jacory Croskey-Merritt by name.

He has spoken about playing football with his cousins during childhood, and those family experiences helped him develop a passion for the sport.

However, cousins and brothers are different family relationships, and available interviews do not establish that any particular relative is his biological or half-brother.

Further information about any brothers remains private.

Does Jacory Croskey-Merritt Have a Sister?

There is also no widely verified public information identifying a sister of Jacory Croskey-Merritt.

His official NFL and university biographies do not provide a complete list of siblings.

As of now, no specific sister’s name, age or background can be reliably confirmed from the available reporting.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s Extended Family and Cousins

Although little is publicly known about his siblings, Croskey-Merritt has openly discussed his close relationship with relatives in Montgomery.

In a February 2026 interview published by the Washington Commanders, he explained that much of his extended family lived in his hometown.

Growing up, he frequently played football with his cousins. Those informal games were among the experiences that helped establish his love for the sport.

When Alabama State University offered him the opportunity to play college football, staying close to his family became an important advantage.

Because Alabama State is located in Montgomery, his relatives could attend games and follow his development without having to travel across the country.

Croskey-Merritt recalled that his family regularly supported him at both home and away games.

Those experiences made his early college football years especially meaningful.

Even after transferring to other universities, his relationship with his hometown and extended family continued to influence his motivation.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s Childhood and Family Background

Jacory Croskey-Merritt was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, where he attended Sidney Lanier High School.

He grew up in a community where opportunities for young athletes could be difficult to secure, particularly for players who did not receive significant national recruiting attention.

During his high school career, Croskey-Merritt demonstrated considerable potential as a running back but was not heavily recruited by major college football programs.

According to the Washington Commanders, he entered college as a zero-star prospect, meaning he had not received a recognized recruiting-star rating.

Alabama State University, located in his hometown, provided the opportunity he needed to continue playing football.

In a February 2026 interview, Croskey-Merritt acknowledged that Alabama State had essentially been his only realistic college football opportunity.

The decision allowed him to remain close to his parents, cousins and extended family while developing his athletic abilities.

His experience at the historically Black university also helped prepare him for the challenges he would encounter at higher levels of college football.

He has credited Alabama State with teaching him gratitude, resilience and the importance of appreciating opportunities rather than taking them for granted.

Why Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt Called Bill?

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is widely known by the nickname “Bill.” The name originated during his childhood in Montgomery.

According to reporting by FOX Sports and the Washington Commanders, Croskey-Merritt frequently wore his hair closely cropped or shaved when he was younger.

Friends thought his appearance resembled the main character from the animated children’s television series Little Bill.

They began calling him Little Bill, and the nickname eventually became Bill.

The name followed him through high school and college football.

During his time at Alabama State, even his coaches needed time to understand why teammates were referring to him as Bill rather than Jacory.

By the time he entered the NFL, the nickname had become an important part of his public identity.

Washington Commanders fans frequently chant Bill during games, and his teammates also regularly use the name.

Interestingly, former coaches have explained that his parents still tend to call him Jacory.

How Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s Family Influenced His Football Career

Family encouragement has been one of the recurring themes throughout Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s football journey.

After playing at Alabama State, he transferred to the University of New Mexico, where he enjoyed a breakout season in 2023.

He rushed for 1,190 yards and scored 17 rushing touchdowns, earning second-team All-Mountain West recognition.

His performances attracted attention from larger college football programs, and he eventually transferred to the University of Arizona.

However, his final college season was affected by NCAA eligibility questions.

Despite rushing for 106 yards and a touchdown in his opening game with Arizona, he was unable to participate in subsequent games.

The uncertainty threatened his ambition of reaching the NFL.

Rather than abandoning his goals, Croskey-Merritt continued attending team meetings, practicing and improving his skills.

During a May 2025 interview with the Washington Commanders, he credited his faith and family support with helping him deal with that difficult period.

His persistence was rewarded when he earned an invitation to the 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl.

He rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns in the game and received Offensive MVP honors.

Washington subsequently selected him with the 245th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

During his rookie season, Croskey-Merritt became an important contributor to the Commanders’ offense, finishing with 805 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.

Following an impressive performance against the Los Angeles Chargers, he thanked his teammates and family for supporting him throughout his journey.

His career success has frequently been accompanied by public expressions of gratitude toward the people who helped him overcome obstacles.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s Community Work in Montgomery

Croskey-Merritt has maintained a connection to Montgomery even after becoming an NFL player.

In November 2025, he returned to his hometown to organize a Thanksgiving community event.

The initiative included food assistance, sports-related giveaways and activities for local families.

Montgomery Public Schools promoted the event, which was held at the Sheridan Heights Community Center.

Reports from the event described the distribution of turkeys, Nike products and other supplies to residents.

His efforts reflected his appreciation for the community that supported him during childhood and his desire to create positive opportunities for others.

For the running back, returning home has been another way of maintaining meaningful connections with his family and hometown.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s Family

Who is Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s girlfriend?

As of now, Jacory Croskey-Merritt has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend. His current romantic relationship status remains private.

Is Jacory Croskey-Merritt married?

There is no publicly verified information confirming that Jacory Croskey-Merritt is married or identifying a wife.

Does Jacory Croskey-Merritt have children?

There are no reliable public reports establishing that Jacory Croskey-Merritt has a son or daughter.

Who is Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s mother?

His mother is Charleighdia Merritt. She publicly discussed her son’s childhood and dedication during a WAKA Action 8 News interview in May 2025.

Who is Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s father?

His father has been mentioned by former coaches, but his full name has not been reliably established in major public reporting.

How many siblings does Jacory Croskey-Merritt have?

The number and names of Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s siblings have not been independently verified in established sports publications or official player biographies.

Where is Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s family from?

Jacory Croskey-Merritt grew up in Montgomery, Alabama, where much of his extended family lived. He attended Sidney Lanier High School before beginning his college football career at Alabama State University.

Why is Jacory Croskey-Merritt called Bill?

He received the nickname Bill during childhood because friends thought he resembled the animated character Little Bill. The nickname remained with him throughout college and professional football.

When was Jacory Croskey-Merritt born?

Jacory Croskey-Merritt was born on April 12, 2001, in Montgomery, Alabama.

Which NFL team drafted Jacory Croskey-Merritt?

The Washington Commanders selected Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft with the 245th overall pick.

Does Jacory Croskey-Merritt play for the Washington Commanders?

Yes. Croskey-Merritt is a Washington Commanders running back. The team placed him on injured reserve on October 19, 2026, following a groin injury.