Graduate defensive lineman Howard Cross III and graduate safety Xavier Watts have both been named to the FWAA All-America Second Team.
Cross III was also named to the FWAA Second Team in 2023. Watts was a first-team honoree in 2023.
The Irish defense is one of the most complete defenses in the country, ranking among the FBS’ top teams. At the end of the regular season, Notre Dame was first in team passing efficiency defense (94.10), first in turnovers gained (28), first in defensive touchdowns (6), third in scoring defense (13.6), fourth in passing yards allowed (157.9), fourth in interceptions (17), seventh in fumbles recovered (11), ninth in red zone defense (0.733), 10th in total defense (296.8) and 10th in first downs defense (197).
Cross III owns four sacks in 2024, already a single-season career-high. This season in nine games, he has posted 23 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss and three quarterback hurries.
He was named the Outland Trophy Player of the Week for his performance vs. Louisville in which he was the nation’s top-graded interior lineman that weekend. 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).
Cross III also shone in the 49-7 win over Stanford, in which he posted two sacks (loss of 15 yards), a quarterback hurry and four tackles (all solo).
Watts, a Notre Dame team captain, has been named an Associated Press, AFCA and Walter Camp First-Team All-American, all three for the second-consecutive season.
Watts has also been named a First-Team All-American by The Athletic, USA TODAY, Sports Illustrated and Pro Football Focus. Watts was named a First-Team Midseason All-American by Associated Press, The Sporting News, PFF, Athlon Sports, The Athletic and CBS Sports.
Watts earned Notre Dame’s program Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024, and he was named a semifinalist for the 2024 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and the 2024 Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Watts has totaled 12-career interceptions, the most by a Notre Dame player since 1996. He is the 19th Notre Dame player to intercept 10 or more passes and is tied for eighth on the all-time list for career interceptions in program history.
Watts ranks third in the nation in total interceptions (5), fourth in the nation in interceptions per game (0.4), and 12th in the country in passes defended (1.2 per game).
Notre Dame has gained 28 turnovers this season (tied for first in the nation). Watts is responsible for six of them (five interceptions, one fumble recovery).