Ole Miss picked up a dynamic playmaker via the transfer portal, adding a running back in the spring window.

The player is Jacory Croskey-Merritt, a RB who began his career at Alabama State. He spent the 2023 season at New Mexico, delivering one of the best seasons in program history at the position for the Lobos.

After initially committing to Arizona in February, Croskey-Merritt shared the news that he is committed to Lane Kiffin’s program Friday night:

While at New Mexico, Croskey-Merritt rushed for 1,190 yards and averaged 6.3 yards per carry with 17 rushing touchdowns. He finished the season with a pair of 200-yard performances, going for a combined 442 yards and 3 touchdowns in games against Fresno State and Utah State.

Impact for Ole Miss

Running back is a position with question marks for the Rebels after back-to-back impressive seasons from Quinshon Judkins. He was a surprise transfer portal mover to Ohio State after his time with the Rebels, and now Kiffin’s staff is adding to the room.

Croskey-Merritt joins a room that will include veteran Ulysses Bentley IV (540 yards in 2023) and class of 2023 4-star Kedrick Reescano. There’s also the possibility that Ole Miss is not finished adding to the room.

Former Rebel Henry Parrish Jr. recently hit the transfer portal at Miami, and he remains linked to a potential return move to Ole Miss. It’s a move that would make a lot of sense for Parrish, a player with over 2,000 career yards, and the RB room at Ole Miss.