Notre Dame 99-to-0: No. 56 Howard Cross, fifth-year defensive tackle, multi-year starter

Listed measurements: 6-foot-⅞, 280 pounds.2023-24 year, eligibility: A fifth-year veteran, Cross has two seasons of eligibility remaining.Depth Chart: Cross will start for Notre Dame at nose tackle this fall, once again serving at the point of attack, more often tasked with occupying space than breaking into the backfield. There is no proven backup behind him, though juniors Jason Onye and Gabe Rubio have impressed enough to think Cross will get some rest in 2023. Onye better fits the position, but Rubio has more experience.Recruiting: A consensus four-star prospect, Cross chose the Irish over a bounty of Big Ten and ACC offers, including Michigan, Northwestern and Boston College. The son of a former NFL tight end and the Gatorade New Jersey Football Player of the Year in 2018, Cross was rated the No. 27 defensive end in the class by rivals.com.

CAREER TO DATE Cross spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons backing up workhorse veteran Kurt Hinish and three-technique tackle Jayson Ademilola, but as a head injury worried Hinish’s final season and nagging shoulder concerns slowed Ademilola’s 2021, Cross broke out with 22 tackles in 11 games, including 4.5 tackles for loss with three sacks. He shined most as the season neared its conclusion.

Entering 2022, Cross looked set for more of a contributing role, though his starting most of the season was initially unexpected. He would have started more than seven games if a left high ankle sprain had not plagued Cross for much of the year. But with the abrupt early-season departure of Jacob Lacey, Notre Dame needed every play it could get from Cross.

2019: 4 games; 7 tackles. 2020: 12 games, 13 tackles. 2021: 11 games; 22 tackles with 4.5 for loss including three sacks. 2022: 12