Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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16 OCT. 23, 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY PATRICK ENGEL T o play nose tackle at 6-foot-1 and 275 pounds is to present an en- ticing on-paper matchup for op- posing centers and guards. Nose tackle is a position that often smashes into double-teams and has to eat space. The average starter is typi- cally around 300 pounds. At Notre Dame, starting nose tackle Kurt Hinish is exactly that size. It'd be understand- able if an opponent's offensive linemen looked at the modest measurables next to junior Howard Cross III — Hinish's backup and the starter in his absence — and wondered, this guy is a nose tackle? Yes, Howard Cross III really is a nose tackle at that size. And it's an advantage for him. "Centers probably look at him on the scouting report and say, 'He's small. We're about to move these guys,'" senior defensive tackle Jayson Ademilola said. "Nope. Howie will push your stuff in." Game days, then, are unpleasant sur- prises for opposing linemen who see 6-1, 275 on a depth chart and can't fully appreciate the physical traits on film. Cross slips by them with crafty hand work and a top-level burst off the ball. He beats pulling linemen to their spot, leaving them a cloud of dust instead of a man to block. He's a wrecking ball of energy. Cross climbed up to the No. 2 nose guard spot last season, making 13 tack- les with six quarterback pressures while averaging 13.8 snaps per game. In the same role this year, he has eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and eight pressures through five games. He to- taled five tackles (1.5 for loss) and three pressures in starts against Wisconsin and Cincinnati while Hinish was out with a concussion. He makes up for a lack of mass with rare physical gifts. "Howard's hands are so heavy," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said. "His first-step quickness is as good we've had here at Notre Dame." Considering the list of standout defensive linemen in Kelly's 12-year tenure, that's hefty praise. It's also a positive reflection on Notre Dame's de- fensive line, which doesn't give a full- time starting spot to a player with such traits. Ademilola even has a special label for Cross' mitts. "Howard, he has the most violent hands," he said. "His get-off is insane. He plays with great pad level." What, exactly, do violent hands look like? "He will strike you close in the chest," Ademilola said. "It doesn't matter who it is. If you don't come off the ball faster than him, it's done." Wisconsin and Cincinnati interior linemen know the feeling. Cross made his first career start in the 41-13 win over the Badgers Sept. 25 and announced his presence with a first-quarter ex- clamation point. Wisconsin center Joe Tippmann was assigned to slide right and reach-block him, but instead of get- ting hands on Cross' chest, he turned and saw Cross already even with his face. Tippmann had no chance. Cross churned past him and dropped Wis- consin running back Chez Mellusi for a three-yard loss. T h e n ex t we e k a ga i n s t C i n c i n - nati, Cross shared a tackle for loss and stuffed a run near the goal line. On the former, the right side of the Bearcats' line greeted him on a first- quarter run play. Cross stuck his arms out, held his ground and side-stepped around right tackle Dylan O'Quinn as right guard Lorenz Metz left the double team. He barreled toward quarterback Desmond Ridder, who had kept the ball on a read option. Ridder saw the on- BURSTING ONTO THE SCENE Junior Howard Cross III is thriving at nose tackle despite a smaller stature for the position