Howard Cross Plans To Return To Notre Dame For the 2024 Season
Notre Dame got some good news today as defensive tackle Howard Cross III announced he would return for the 2024 season. Cross returning means the Irish personnel losses from the veteran 2023 defense won't be quite as harsh.
Cross went from solid rotation player in previous seasons to an impact starter in 2023. He was good all season, but there were stretches this season when he was without question the team's most dominant front seven player.
Cross's national breakout came in the 21-14 come-from-behind victory over Duke. Cross registered career highs with 13 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack. His sack late in the game forced a fumble the Irish recovered, which sealed the win. A week later, Cross registered seven tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss against Louisville.
Cross finished the 2023 regular season with 64 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and a sack. He also broke up a pair of passes and forced two fumbles, both of which came against Duke.
Cross only registered one sack on the season, but he was still disruptive as a pass rusher. According to Pro Football Focus, Cross led the Irish defense with 36 quarterback hurries, which was more than Isaiah Foskey had in each of the two previous seasons. He also led the defense with 32 run stops on the season, which also led the defense. It was the most stops in a season by an interior defensive lineman since Sheldon Day registered 33 back in 2015.
The outstanding season, and big moments on the biggest stages, helped Cross earn All-America honors this season. Both Walter Camp and Pro Football Focus named Cross a second team All-American, giving the Irish their first All-American interior player since Jerry Tillery back in 2018.
Cross is one of three veteran defenders that Notre Dame needs to return next season if it wants to continue its defensive dominance. His inside parter - Rylie Mills - and fellow All-American Xavier Watts have yet to announce their intentions. If all three return they should combine with All-American caliber cornerback Benjamin Morrison and a talented group of young players to allow the Irish to continue playing championship caliber defense.
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