'Ironman' Howard Cross III grooms his successors at nose tackle for Notre Dame football
SOUTH BEND — Howard Cross III wanted to make one thing perfectly clear this week when discussing his potential successors at nose tackle for Notre Dame football.
The official height listings for Cross (6-foot, 7/8 inches) and redshirt freshman Donovan Hinish (6-1 and 5/8) are wrong.
“Donnie reminds me of myself, obviously, being that we’re the same height,” Cross said Tuesday evening ahead of this week’s meeting with unranked Pittsburgh. “And put that on record: We are the same height. I’ve got the measurements.”
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Cross, who leads the Irish in tackles for loss (5.5) and ranks second in overall tackles (45), trails only T’Vondre Sweat of Texas when it comes to Pro Football Focus’ overall grades for interior defensive linemen. With a grade of 89.7 on 392 defensive snaps, the fifth-year senior leads the nation among those with at least 250 game snaps.
While Cross still has a COVID-19 bonus year at his disposal, his breakout season figures to improve his NFL draft stock.
His Ironman status hasn’t left much game action for his backups, but Cross offered raves for Aidan Keanaaina and Hinish, the younger brother of former Notre Dame captain Kurt Hinish.
“They’re by far the two,” Cross said. “They’re moving along, and Gabe (Rubio) too. … Donnie is fast off the ball; he can use his hands. Same thing with Aidan.”
While the 280-pound Hinish, a three-star signee out of Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School, has flashed with his quickness, brute strength is the key attribute for Keanaaina. Notre Dame’s heaviest defender at 309 pounds, the fourth-year junior has played just 24 defensive snaps all year, 50 fewer than Hinish.
“Aidan just can’t be moved,” Cross said. “He’s like another version of Kurt, but probably better because Kurt doesn’t move at all. Even in the league now, he doesn’t move. And Aidan doesn’t move either. He’s actually pretty good on pass rush, too.”
Rubio, a third-year sophomore who bulked up to 306 pounds, has missed time this year following arthoscopic knee surgery (three games) and a concussion (Louisville). His PFF.com rating of 66.4 (on 70 defensive snaps) sits behind those of Hinish (76.1) and Keanaaina (72.9).
A four-star signee from suburban Denver, Keanaaina missed all but one game last season after suffering a torn ACL on Day 1 of 2022 spring practice. Keanaaina has two years of eligibility after this season while Hinish has three.
Follow Notre Dame football writer Mike Berardino on social media @MikeBerardino.
No. 14 Notre Dame (6-2) vs. Pittsburgh (2-5)
■When: Saturday, Oct. 28, 3:30 p.m. EDT
■Where: Notre Dame Stadium (77,622), South Bend, Ind.
■Rankings: Notre Dame is ranked No. 14 in both the AP and US LBM Coaches Polls. Pitt is unranked.
■TV: NBC/Peacock
■Radio: WSBT (960 AM), WNSN (101.5 FM)
■Line: Notre Dame opens as a 20-point favorite
■Series: Notre Dame leads all-time series 50-21-1
■Last meeting: No. 3 Notre Dame defeated Pitt, 45-3, on Oct. 24, 2020 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Howard Cross III highlights possible successors at Notre Dame football
