Jacory Croskey-Merritt named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week

On Saturday, Jacory Croskey-Merritt was bombarded with messages on social media. Texts. Calls. Anything and everything from friends and family just looking to congratulate him for a personal-best performance.

“It just made me feel like I accomplished something,” New Mexico’s senior running back said on Monday after practice. “For all those people to reach out to me after the game, it just felt amazing for all my hard work (and) dedication to be seen on that type of stage, and for us to come out with a win, that made it even better.”

And on Monday, those messages kept flowing in. Croskey-Merritt was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for a career-high 209 yards and two touchdowns in UNM’s 25-17 win over Fresno State on Saturday.

The senior running back’s performance marked the 11th-most single game rushing yards in program history and represented the first 200-yard game from a running back since Ahmari Davis rushed for 200 against Hawaii on Oct. 26, 2019.

“It’s a blessing,” he said on Monday after practice. “First off, I wanna thank God, thank my (offensive) linemen for paving the way for me to be able to have the success that I have … those guys work, we were hungry for a game like that.

“And they just came and laid it on the line. I can’t thank those guys enough. I’m just super proud to have them guys in front of me.”

A transfer from Alabama State and Montgomery, Ala. native, Croskey-Merritt has now ran for 957 yards and 16 touchdowns on 158 carries in his first year with the Lobos. Putting up 43-plus yards on the ground Friday would ensure his place as UNM’s first 1,000-plus yard rusher since Teriyon Gipson put up 1,269 yards in 2016, only the third Lobo to do so since 2010.

Three more rushing touchdowns against Utah State would also tie DonTrell Moore’s 20-year-old single-season rushing touchdown record (19).

“I knew I could have those types of nights and I just want it all the time now,” Croskey-Merritt said. “So, I’m just looking for nights like those to come normal and just keep working.”

Croskey-Merritt is the second Lobo to be named the MW Offensive Player of the Week this season, with quarterback Dylan Hopkins earning the same honor after wins against Tennessee Tech and Hawaii.

In addition to Croskey-Merritt’s honor, UNLV linebacker Marsel McDuffie was named the MW Defensive Player of the Week, Colorado State kicker Jordan Noyes was named the MW Special Teams Player of the Week and UNLV quarterback Jayden Maiava was named the MW Freshman of the Week.