It is AWARD WATCH LIST season for Notre-Dame Football and the rest of the country. On Friday, three Irish players were on the Lombardi Award watch list.
Cross III, Evans and Mills selected for Lombardi Award watch list
SOUTH BEND, Indiana. – Graduate defensive linemen Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills and senior tight end Mitchell Evans were all named to the 2024 Lombardi Award Watch List. This award continues to recognize the outstanding college football lineman, whether on offense or defense, who displays exceptional performance and skill and embodies the character and discipline that Vince Lombardi has championed throughout his life.
OL Joe Alt was a finalist for the award in 2023. Five Notre Dame players have received the honor throughout history: DE Walt Patulski (1971), DE Ross Browner (1977), DT Chris Zorich (1990), OL Aaron Taylor (1993) and LB Manti Te’o (2012).
In 2023, Cross III and Mills helped Notre Dame become the best pass efficiency defense in the country (97.09), the program’s best performance since 1980 (4th) and the fifth-best defense overall (276.3).
Cross III collected 66 stops in 2023, ranking second among all Power 5 front-four defensive linemen. This 2024 preseason, he was named to the waiting lists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Bednarik Award, Outland Trophy, Lott IMPACT Trophy and Nagurski Trophy. He was named a Preseason First Team All-American by USA TODAY, Sporting News and Walter Camp.
Cross III, a semifinalist for the 2023 Bednarik Award, announced his status as the nation’s best defensive player during the comeback at No. 17 Duke on Sept. 30. Cross III led the Irish with 13 tackles, also forced two fumbles (including the game-winning fumble with 0:27 left) and was named national defensive player of the week by Walter Camp, received the Bednarik Award and the Senior Bowl. Cross III was selected to the 2023 Second Team All-America by the FWAA, Walter Camp, the Associated Press and The Sporting News.
Mills, who is also on the 2024 Outland Trophy Watch List, played and started in all 13 games of his final season (2023). He finished the season with 47 tackles (22 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Mills also recorded four quarterback hurries and recovered two fumbles.
A member of the 2024 Sporting News Preseason All-America Second Team, Evans had a stellar season in 2023 before being sidelined by injury. He played in eight games as a junior, starting seven, and finished the season as the team’s leading pass receiver with an average of 52.8 yards per game. In those eight games, Evans totaled 29 pass catches for 422 yards and one touchdown over the course of the season, for an average of 14.6 yards per catch. Evans was also named to the candidate lists for the Mackey Award, Biletnikoff Award and 2024 Comeback Player of the Year.
