2024-25 Football Roster

#56 Howard Cross III 2023-24 Football Roster

DL

Height 6-1

Weight 275

Class Junior/Sophomore

Hometown Paramus, NJ

High School St. Joseph Regional

Bio / Statistics

HONORS AND AWARDS

Outland Trophy National Player of the Week (Oct. 1)
Watchlist for 2025 Senior Bowl
2024 Associated Press Preseason All-American – First Team
2024 Lombardi Award Watch List
2024 USA Today Preseason All-American – First Team
2024 Sporting News 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 Associated Press Midseason All-American – First Team
2023 The Sporting News Midseason All-American
2023 ESPN Midseason All-American
2023 Lott IMPACT Trophy Quarterfinalist
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

AS A GRADUATE (2024)

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

AS A GRADUATE (2023)

Football Writers Association of America, Walter Camp, Associated Press, and Sporting News Second Team All-American … Bednarik Award semifinalist … Started all 13 games as the Irish defense’s nose tackle … Finished the season second on the team with 66 tackles, 28 solo … Added seven tackles for loss and two sacks … Batted down two passes and totaled four quarterback hurries … Forced a pair of fumbles
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 quarterback hit
at CLEMSON (11/4): Tallied seven tackles, four solo
WAKE FOREST (11/18): Led the team with nine tackles, three solo … Added a half tackle for loss
at STANFORD (11/25): Recorded an assisted tackle in the win … Added a quarterback hurry
TONY THE TIGER SUN BOWL VS. OREGON STATE (12/29): Totaled two tackles, one solo … Added a sack for a 10-yard loss

AS A SENIOR (2022)

Played in 12 games, making seven starts throughout the season. Ended the year with 33 total tackles, the most among interior defensive lineman for the Irish. Added 14 solo tackles to go with 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Finished with one pass breakup, five quarterback hurries and forced a fumble.
OHIO STATE (9/3): Finished with three total tackles, two solo and an assist. Recorded the first Notre Dame sack of the season, bringing down C.J. Stroud for a loss of five yards on the Buckeyes’ first drive of the game
MARSHALL (9/10): Led the team with 11 tackles, three solo, eight assists. Credited with a half tackle for loss.
CALIFORNIA (9/17): Recorded seven tackles, two solo five assists. Picked up a quarterback hurry
NORTH CAROLINA (9/24): Had a pair of tackles and a quarterback hurry
STANFORD (10/15): Added an assisted tackle
UNLV (10/22): Finished with a pair of solo tackles
Clemson (11/5): Finished with a solo tackle, a sack for a loss of eight yards in the victory.
Navy (11/12): Added two assisted tackles against the triple option
Boston College (11/19): Finished with two tackles, one solo and two quarterback hurries in the 44-0 victory
USC (11/26): Added two tackles, one solo against the Trojans
South Carolina – TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (12/30): Finished with a quarterback hurry in the Irish’s 20th bowl game victory.

AS A JUNIOR (2021)

Played in 11 games for the Irish and made two starts; Finished season with 22 tackles, 13 solo, and placed tied for seventh on the defense with 4.5 tackles for loss (-21 yards); Earned 3.0 sacks and four QB hurries
WISCONSIN (9/25): Made his first start with the Irish and recorded two solo tackles in the 2021 Shamrock Series win over the Badgers.
CINCINNATI (10/2): Started and made three tackles, including 0.5 TFLs against the Bearcats
NORTH CAROLINA (10/30): Made a season-high four tackles against the Tar Heels in the 44-34 victory
VIRGINIA (11/13): Tallied his first sack of the season and made two total tackles against the Cavaliers
GEORGIA TECH (11/20): Set a career high with two sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss and matched his season high with four tackles
Recorded at least one tackle against Florida State (9/5), Toledo (9/11), Purdue (9/18), Navy (11/6) and in the Fiesta Bowl versus Oklahoma State (1/1)

AS A SOPHOMORE (2020)

Appeared in all 12 games for the Irish this season; Finished with 13 tackles, eight solo
SOUTH FLORIDA (9/19): Posted a tackle and a QB hurry in the 52-0 win
FLORIDA STATE (10/10): Made one tackle in the win over the Seminoles
LOUISVILLE (10/17): Posted two tackles, one solo, in the 12-7 win
CLEMSON (11/7): Tallied a stop in the 47-40 2OT win over the then-No. 1 Tigers
NORTH CAROLINA (11/27): Posted a tackle in the 31-17 win at the No. 19 Tar Heels
SYRACUSE (12/5): Totaled a career-high three tackles in the 41-25 regular season finale win
CLEMSON – ACC Championship (12/19): Tallied two tackles in the ACC title game
ALABAMA – Rose Bowl (1/1): Posted two tackles in the CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game
Saw action against Duke (9/12), Pitt (10/24), Georgia Tech (10/31) and Boston College (11/14)

AS A FRESHMAN (2019)

Played in four games as a rookie — New Mexico, Bowling Green, Michigan and Navy; Recorded seven tackles on the year
NAVY (11/16): Set a career high with five tackles against the Midshipmen

PREP AND PERSONAL

No. 336 overall player nationally, No. 25 strongside defensive end nationally and No. 8 player from New Jersey by 247Sports.com
No. 54 defensive end nationally and No. 11 player from New Jersey by ESPN.com
No. 27 strongside defensive end nationally and No. 8 player from New Jersey by Rivals.com
Recorded 76 tackles, 22.0 TFLs, 9.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, two passes defended and one forced fumble as a senior in 2018
Career stats: 218 tackles, 45.0 TFLs, 22.0 sacks, four fumble recoveries, two passes defended and two forced fumbles
Helped Saint Joseph to its 19th New Jersey State Championship in 2018
Named 2018 NJ.com State Player of the Year
Played for coach Augie Hoffmann at Saint Joseph Regional
Father, Howard Jr., played 13 years in the NFL for the New York Giants (1989-2001)
Howard Jr. helped the Giants to a Super Bowl XXV victory over the Buffalo Bills