Notre Dame DL Howard Cross III Patiently Waiting to Pressure Quarterbacks
Howard Cross III could have left for the NFL following another productive season at Notre Dame.
In fact, 2023 was the most productive season of the New Jersey native’s career as he tallied an incredible 66 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles as a senior.
The 6-foot-1, 288-pounder led Notre Dame with 31 QB hurries (per PFF) last fall and Cross wants that number to go higher this fall.
“Game-wise, coming off the ball faster,” Cross said of where he wants to improve. “I think I counted, like, so many pressures. Two sacks. Realistically, I also counted four or five more; they were counted as penalties. That’s fine. Not complaining about that at all.
“I counted like seven or eight or nine where I got in the backfield and then the quarterback juked me or something like that. So basically, just finishing the pass rush. That’s a big thing for me this year.”
Notre Dame also ranked in the top five in pressure rate a year ago. There is little doubt Cross will get his pressure, but if the group can also take another step forward, Notre Dame could become a scary group, especially when you factor in the two All-Americans roaming in the secondary.
“We build off it,” Cross said. “But last year, the standard, that’s what the bare minimum should be. That’s what our mindset is. Getting off the ball, using our hands, using our technique as close to perfection as we can.”
Cross will enter this season as a major note in opponents scouting reports. Four major organizations named him a second-team All-American for his efforts in 2023, but his impact may be even greater than that.
The added attention on the scouting report is something Cross looks forward to embracing.
“I got a taste for it last year after the Duke game,” explained Cross. “Everybody kind of figured out that, ‘Hey, there’s actually somebody here.’ But the very next game, I immediately saw — the things they were doing, I was like, ‘Wait a minute, that’s suspicious.’ They would do stuff for me.
“I came back fully knowing that, right? I know I’m probably gonna be double-teamed every play. But that’s also the great thing about having Rylie (Mills) and RJ (Oben) and (Jason) Onye and everybody else is that there’s other people, so they can’t do that all the time. So that’s good.”
Cross is fine with attention on the field, but he’s not focused on the preseason hype despite his name being on new watch lists on a daily basis.
“Don’t care,” stated Cross. “Not in a mean way; I’m a firm believer in that’s fantastic — I know Notre Dame football tags me in all this stuff and that’s fantastic, but it doesn’t mean anything. If you’re projected to be a first-team All-American, that’s great. We still have a month left until the season even starts. That doesn’t do anything for me.
“It’s like pre-draft picks. That’s so great. That’s fantastic. I’m a very grounded person and a very realistic person. Yeah, it’s fantastic, but I gotta prove it.”
Cross might have big expectations on his back, but the Notre Dame defensive line group has even larger expectations. Notre Dame will return three starters, while Oben comes from establishing himself at Duke.
The two-deep is filled with upperclassmen, and it’s noticeable that Al Washington’s group has taken a business approach to fall camp.
“It’s older, more mature guys,” said Cross. “Stuff that you wouldn’t really see — as a young group would have like people messing up, people missing plays or not doing well in practice or not paying attention in meetings. We don’t have that. We’re all kind of veterans and we all kind of understand what the deal is.”
Cross and Mills will lead the group, which raises the question of who will be named captain. Marcus Freeman has established a strong culture of leadership outside of those who wear the C on their jersey, and Cross will hold that mindset regardless of who is named captain.
“I’m a leader,” stated Cross. “I help out dudes that need help, guys that need extra work or anything like that. I’ll make sure they get it. I’ll be honest, I’m not a rah-rah, front of the line, screaming, bringing up the huddle, I’m not that dude. I help anybody I can. If anybody needs help, needs to work on their technique, I’m that guy. I’m not the rah-rah guy.”
As for Cross being limited in fall camp with a hamstring, it appears Notre Dame’s staff is simply being safe with the heart and soul of the defensive line.
“You just watch, said Cross. “I’m angry every day about the fact that they’re like, ‘Hey man, just be careful with that.’ I’m like, ‘Hey, I want to go 100 percent.’ I’m ready to go. But again, this is my sixth camp, which is ridiculous, trust me.
“I have to find a balance, even if I don’t want to, and just be ready because really, this all doesn’t really mean anything unless I’m OK for the first game. And I will be. So as long as I’m okay for that, then I’m good.”
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