Graduate defensive linemen Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills have both been named to the 2024 Outland Trophy Watch List. The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best interior lineman in college football, and Cross III is the only returning All-American on the watch list, which is comprised of 75 players across FBS schools.
In 2023, Cross III and Mills helped Notre Dame to become the nation’s top pass-efficiency defense (97.09), the program’s best effort since 1980 (4th), and the fifth-overall defense (276.3) .
In 2023, Notre Dame offensive lineman Joe Alt was a finalist for the Outland Trophy. Since the award’s inception in 1946, three Notre Dame football players have been honored with the award: offensive tackle George Connor (1946), offensive guard Bill Fischer (1948) and defensive end Ross Browner (1976).
Cross III earned Second Team All-America honors from FWAA, Walter Camp, the Associated Press and The Sporting News in 2023. He was a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award, starting all 13 games for Notre Dame. He piled up 66 stops in 2023, which ranked second among all Power 5 front-four defensive lineman.
Mills played and started in all 13 games in his senior season (2023). He finished the season with 47 tackles (22 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Mills also earned four quarterback hurries and recovered a pair of fumbles
The FWAA will announce the Outland Trophy semifinalists on Nov. 20, and those players will then be paired down to three finalists announced on Nov. 26. The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from those finalists who will be part of the annual FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects a 26-man first team and eventually the three Outland finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner. Only interior linemen on offense or defense are eligible for the award; ends are not eligible.
The Outland Trophy, celebrating 79 years since its founding, is the third-oldest major college football award. Created in 1946 when Dr. John Outland presented the FWAA with a financial contribution to initiate the award, the Outland Trophy has been given to the best interior lineman in college football ever since Dr. Outland, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s, eventually took up practice in Kansas City, Mo. An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Outland believed linemen did not get the credit they deserved and wanted an award to recognize them.