The meeting marks the second known time the 49ers have spoken with Croskey-Merritt. The team previously met with him at the Hula Bowl in January, per Steph Sanchez.
Leading up to the East-West Shrine Bowl, Croskey-Merritt had not played since Arizona's 2024 season opener against his former team, the New Mexico Lobos. Before transferring to Arizona, he had an impressive 2023 season with New Mexico, recording 1,190 rushing yards and 18 total touchdowns (17 rushing, one receiving). His career-high 92.7 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus that season ranked fourth among all collegiate running backs.
After the 2024 season opener, Croskey-Merritt missed the remainder of the season due to "concerns" about his eligibility, according to Arizona head coach Brent Brennan.
At the East-West Shrine Bowl, Croskey-Merritt impressed scouts by rushing for 97 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries in a 25-0 victory for the East team, marking the first shutout in the all-star game since 1969. He was named the offensive MVP of the game.
Croskey-Merritt began his collegiate career at Alabama State in 2019, playing there for four seasons before transferring to New Mexico in 2023 and Arizona in 2024.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Expert names 49ers QB Brock Purdy as MVP candidate; Mac Jones trade talk continues
ESPN NFL analyst Seth Walder recently released his way-too-early list of the top 10 candidates for the NFL MVP award, and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy made the cut. Purdy missed several games last season while battling a lingering turf toe injury. Despite the... -
49ers' Brock Purdy named top dark-horse MVP candidate for 2026
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy still has his share of skeptics, but NFL Media's Dan Parr believes the signal-caller deserves serious consideration in the MVP conversation. In a recent ranking of the NFL's top dark-horse MVP candidates, Parr placed Purdy at No. 1,... -
49ers veteran assesses young D-linemen CJ West, Gracen Halton
San Francisco 49ers rookie defensive tackle Gracen Halton, a fourth-round draft pick, was already familiar with his new teammate, Osa Odighizuwa, before arriving in Santa Clara. As he prepares for the 2026 season, Halton hopes to learn from the veteran defensive lineman and... -
49ers among the Super Bowl LXI favorites, per ESPN's Football Power Index
The San Francisco 49ers are coming off a good season amidst a bounty of injuries, and ESPN's latest Football Power Index suggests they remain firmly in the Super Bowl conversation. This is despite some key players such as Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, George Kittle, and Mykel...