In 2024, Howard Cross III has been named a preseason First-Team All-American by Walter Camp, Sporting News and USA TODAY, earning selection to the preseason All-America second team from The Athletic. Cross III has been named to watch lists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, the Nagurski Trophy, the Bednarik Award, the Outland Trophy, the Lombardi Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000.

Cross III owns four sacks in 2024, already a single-season career-high.

• 2024 Outland Trophy Player of the Week (Louisville)
• 2024 Notre Dame Defensive Player of the Game (Stanford)
• 2024 Outland Trophy Watch List
• 2024 Bednarik Award Watch List
• 2024 Nagurski Trophy Watch List
• 2024 Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
• 2024 Lombardi Award Watch List
• 2024 Associated Press Preseason All-American – First Team
• 2024 USA Today Preseason All-American – First Team
• 2024 Sporting News Preseason All-American – First Team
• 2024 Lott IMPACT Trophy Candidate
• 2024 Phil Steele Preseason All-American – First Team
• 2023 FWAA All-American – Second Team
• 2023 Walter Camp All-American – Second Team
• 2023 Associated Press All-American – Second Team
• 2023 The Sporting News All-American – Second Team
• 2023 Notre Dame Moose Krause Defensive Lineman of the Year
• 2023 Bednarik Award Semifinalist
• 2023 Lott IMPACT Trophy Quarterfinalist
• 2023 Associated Press Midseason All-American – First Team
• 2023 The Sporting News Midseason All-American
• 2023 ESPN Midseason All-American
• 2023 Walter Cam Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 1, 2023)
• 2023 Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week (Oct. 1, 2023)
• 2023 Bednarik Award Player of the Week (Oct. 1, 2023)
• 2023 Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 1, 2023)
• 2023 Notre Dame Defensive Player of the Game – at Duke
• 2023 Notre Dame Defensive Player of the Game – Tennessee State
• He piled up 66 stops in 2023, which ranked second among all Power 5 front-four defensive lineman.

IN 2024:

• Cross III owns four sacks in 2024, already a single-season career-high.
• at TEXAS A&M (8/31): Made the start on the defensive line… played 51 snaps on defense and one on special teams… recorded four tackles – two solo and two assisted – on the night… came up with sack for a loss of 11 yards on third down to force the Aggies into a punt
• NORTHERN ILLINOIS (9/7): Started in the game, registered an assisted tackle on defense
• at PURDUE (9/15): Started on the defensive line in the win, registered a tackle for loss
• MIAMI UNIVERSITY (9/22): Started on the defensive line for the Irish in the win… collected four tackles – three assisted and one solo… had a sack
• STANFORD (10/12): Started on defense for the Irish… posted two sacks to match single-game career-high… collected four solo tackles, registered one quarterback hurry
• at GEORGIA TECH (10/19): Started on defense and also competed on special teams… had a solo tackle and a quarterback hurry
• at NAVY (10/26): Started on the defensive line… had four assisted tackles… added a quarterback hurry
• FLORIDA STATE (11/9): Started and posted two tackles before leaving the game

GAME SPOTLIGHT: 10/12/24 vs. STANFORD

• Cross III led a dominant Notre Dame defensive unit in the 49-7 win over Stanford. Notre Dame’s held Stanford to one score before the Irish scored 49 unanswered points in the 49-7 win. Cross was all over the field, posting two sacks (loss of 15 yards), a quarterback hurry and four tackles (all solo). It marked Cross’ second multiple-sack game of his career (vs. Georgia Tech, 2021).
• Cross and the Irish limited Stanford to just 200 yards of total offense, the Cardinals’ lowest offensive total of the season. The Irish defense have held opponents under 250 total yards on four occasions already this season, the fifth-such season since 2018.
• One of Cross’ sacks came on fourth down to force a turnover on downs (the Irish would score on the ensuing drive to take the lead for the rest of the game). This season, Notre Dame ranks fourth in the nation in fourth-down defense, allowing just 20 percent conversion for opposing offenses.

GAME SPOTLIGHT: 9/28/24 vs. LOUISVILLE

• Cross III was selected as the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week for his performance in the 31-24 win over No. 15 Louisville. Cross was the nation’s top-graded interior lineman that weekend.
• Cross III registered an 88.2 rating (90.2 against the pass) by Pro Football Focus for his performance against Louisville. He and the Irish defense limited Louisville to well below their offensive averages entering the game. Louisville rushed for just 131 rushing yards on the day; the Cardinals entered the game averaging 194.3 rushing yards per game. Notre Dame allowed 264 passing yards (Cardinals entered the matchup averaging 308.0) and 395 yards of total offense (Louisville averaged 502.3 prior).

IN 2023:

• In 2023, Notre Dame finished the season ranked fifth in FBS for total defense (276.3), the program’s best effort since 1980 (4th). The Irish also led the nation in pass efficiency defense (97.09).
• NAVY (8/26): Recorded four tackles in his season debut against the Midshipmen in Dublin, Ireland
• TENNESSEE STATE (9/2): Led the team with six tackles in the victory … Knocked down a pass … Added one quarterback hurry
• at NORTH CAROLINA STATE (9/9): Totaled five tackles, two solo in the win
• CENTRAL MICHIGAN (9/16): Finished with a solo tackle in the victory
• OHIO STATE (9/23): Six stops in the contest, four solo
• at DUKE (9/30): Earned Bednarik Player of the Week honors … Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week … Lott Impact Trophy Player of the Week … Career-high 13 tackles, second game of his career with double-digit tackles … Added a sack for a loss of four in the fourth quarter, also forcing a fumble and securing the victory … Recorded 3.5 tackles for loss, dropped Duke for a loss of seven yards … Recorded two forced fumbles … Added a quarterback hurry
• at LOUISVILLE (10/7): Recorded seven tackles, two solo … Added 1.5 tackles for loss
• USC (10/14): Finished with three tackles, one solo … Added a tackle for a one-yard loss … Batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage
• PITTSBURGH (10/28): Earned two tackles in the victory … Finished with a QB hit
• at CLEMSON (11/4): Totaled seven tackles (four solo) at Clemson
• WAKE FOREST (11/18): Led the Irish with nine tackles in the 45-7 win. The defense held Wake to just 232 yards of total offense (98 passing, 134 rushing).
• at STANFORD (11/25): Posted one tackle and one QB hurry in the 56-23 win.
• SUN BOWL VS. OREGON STATE (12/29): Totaled two tackles, one solo … Added a sack for a 10-yard loss

GAME SPOTLIGHT: 9/30/23 at DUKE

• Howard Cross III led Notre Dame with 13 tackles, a single-game high for the Irish this season, adding 3.5 TFL (loss of seven yards) including a solo sack, two forced fumbles and a QB hurry in the 21-14 win over No. 17 Duke. Cross’ 13 tackles were the most in a single game by any FBS defensive lineman that weekend, at that time tied for the most in a single game by a defensive lineman against an FBS offense this season and tied for the second-most in a single game by an FBS defensive lineman this season (14 by Adin Huntington vs. Lamar, 9/9).
• With the game on the line, Cross made Notre Dame’s final stop of the night to cement the win, forcing a Duke fumble which was recovered by the Irish with 18 seconds remaining. Cross’ 13 tackles tied the most by a single player against Duke this season.
• In addition to his 3.5 TFL, Cross compiled two-consecutive stops of rushes for 0 yards on second and third down at the Notre Dame 20-yard line in the first quarter, setting up Duke’s first missed field goal of the night. Then, Cross’ first forced fumble against Duke came on third down at the end of the second quarter, as Cross stripped the ball from the quarterback at Notre Dame’s seven-yard line, forcing a field goal attempt that was no good.
• Duke entered the game averaging 224 passing yards per game, but Notre Dame’s defense held Duke to just 134 yards in the air. Similarly, Duke averaged 424.5 offensive yards per game entering Saturday, and the Irish held the Duke offense to just 323 yards.

PRIOR TO 2023

• Played in 12 games and made a pair of starts in his junior season
• Added 33 Total tackles, most among all Irish interior defensive linemen
• Finished with 2.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks
• Added a pass breakup and a forced fumble
• Recorded the team’s first sack of the 2022 season for a loss of five on the first drive of the Ohio State contest
• Set a season-best mark of 11 tackles against Marshall
• Added seven tackles the following week in the win over California
• Recorded a sack in the team’s victory over No.5/5 Clemson at Notre Dame Stadium