On3 reported on Friday morning that Arizona is expected to be without starting running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt as he continues to battle eligibility issues. Andrew Graham of On3 via his colleague Pete Nakos reported that the NCAA declined comment on Croskey-Merritt's eligibility issues.
Matt Zenitz and John Talty of CBS Sports went more in-depth on why Croskey-Merritt is currently being held back from playing for Arizona. The questions on Croskey-Merritt's eligibility date back to his true freshman season at Alabama State in 2019 per Talty and Zenitz.
The questions were related to if Croskey-Merritt redshirted in 2019. CBS Sports reported ESPN stats show Croskey-Merritt playing in eight games for Alabama State in 2018. Alabama State said that Croskey-Merritt played in only four games in 2019.
Croskey-Merritt reportedly switched numbers with another RB at Alabama State and played only four games in 2019. The official Alabama State biography for Croskey-Merritt states he played in four games with the Hornets as a true freshman. Merritt, as he was known at Alabama State in 2019, wore number two for the Hornets.
No. 20 Arizona is expected to be without starting running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt tonight vs. No. 14 Kansas State, sources tell @247sports/@CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) September 13, 2024
Arizona is waiting on an answer from the NCAA re: the eligibility of Croskey-Merritt, who ran for 106 yards and a TD in the… pic.twitter.com/yLuL1Hz3ea
During his one season at New Mexico, Croskey-Merritt was listed as a redshirt senior. With the extra season of eligibility granted by the NCAA during the 2020 Covid year, this should be Croskey-Merritt's last year to play. The determination will likely be evaluated if Croskey-Merritt redshirted in 2019 or now.
Croskey-Merritt had 13 carries for 106 yards and a game-clinching 36-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to clinch the game versus his former teammates, New Mexico in the season opener. The NCAA cleared Croskey-Merritt to play in 2024 during the offseason.
New information was reported by an unspecified outside source to the NCAA that led to a further investigation of Croskey-Merritt per CBS Sports. Arizona chose to hold out Croskey-Merritt versus Northern Arizona on Saturday and likely on Friday night at Kansas State while awaiting an answer from the NCAA.
The decision for Croskey-Merritt was made by Arizona out of caution. Without Croskey-Merritt, Quali Conley ran 17 times for 112 yards and a TD and added five receptions for 38 yards. Kedrick Reescano had six carries for 71 yards and a 56-yard TD run versus NAU last week backing up Conley.