ASHBURN, Va. (7News) — Every season, there is a player who becomes the breakout star of training camp. Names like James Thrash, Brandon Banks, and Alfred Morris all used their exceptional preseason performances to secure impactful roles on the Washington Commanders’ 53-man roster.

This year’s breakout star could be the best yet. Running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt has amazed coaches, staff, and fans who have witnessed practices in Ashburn.

Even though the running back room is very crowded, Croskey-Merritt is proving he belongs in the NFL, saying, “it’s just good to be around the best of the best.”

With all the success the Commanders had last season under head coach Dan Quinn, and their star quarterback Jayden Daniels at the helm, the Alabama native is excited to be in Washington, “Just the culture. The right people. I love to come to work every day and be around these, the good guys in the building. I just want to help the team,” said Croskey-Merritt.

Croskey-Merritt added, “It’s been like a dream come true. Like this is all I’ve been wanting to do since I was a child.”

It has been a long and windy road for Croskey-Merritt, who was an unheralded player coming out of high school. His college career started at Alabama State, then he transferred to the University of New Mexico, where he had a 1,000-yard season in 2023. He then transferred to the University of Arizona, where he only played one game due to eligibility issues. However, Croskey-Merritt did practice with the team, getting valuable work. After all the moving, Croskey-Merritt said the hard work is paying off.

I never just looked at anyone else’s race. I just ran my own race and just stayed down and kept working in and this is what happened, just me staying down and working.

Despite the limited playing time last year, the Commanders selected Croskey-Merritt in the seventh round of this year’s NFL Draft. The rookie has been turning heads ever since, just bringing his style of play to Washington.

Croskey-Merritt showed his game in the Commanders’ preseason game against the Bengals, rushing for 46 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown run.

Some have compared Croskey-Merritt’s game to All-Pro running back Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints, which is not a problem for Croskey-Merritt.

While Croskey-Merritt is making a name for himself across the league, it’s the name that he earned as a child that his teammates are calling him today, as Croskey-Merritt explained, “So it’s a cartoon called ‘Little Bill’, and they (his family) just called me Little Bill. And it just kind of stuck. People think it’s funny, so I just go with it.”

With the 53-man roster deadline coming soon, ‘Bill’ says he’s hoping and ready to contribute to this team, “I feel like this is just the beginning. I’m definitely happy every day, but I know I have to take it to another notch.”