Cross III, Morrison, Watts Named Preseason First Team All-Americans by Sporting News
SOUTH BEND — Sporting News has released its 2024 Preseason All-America teams that feature five University of Notre Dame football student-athletes. Graduate defensive lineman Howard Cross III, junior cornerback Benjamin Morrison, and senior safety Xavier Watts were selected to the first team, while senior tight end Mitchell Evans and graduate kick returner Jayden Harrison earned second-team honors.
Watts was a first-team Sporting News All-American in 2023, while Cross III was named to the second team.
A 2023 Unanimous All-American and Nagurski Trophy winner, Watts enters 2024 as one of the preeminent defensive backs in college football. He has already been named to watch lists for the Bednarik Award, the Nagurski Trophy, the Walter Camp Player of the Year, and the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. In 2023, he tied for the national lead with seven interceptions, averaging an interception every other game.
Howard Cross III piled up 66 stops in 2023, which ranked second among all Power 5 front-four defensive linemen. This 2024 preseason, he has earned selection to watch lists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, the Outland Trophy, and the Nagurski Trophy.
Morrison led the Irish with 10 pass breakups in 2023, recording 31 tackles (25 solo). Morrison also intercepted three passes on the season. He earned Freshman All-America honors in 2022 as one of the late-season breakout stars of college football, picking off two interceptions and returning one 96 yards for a touchdown in Notre Dame’s 35-14 romp over No. 5 Clemson.
Harrison was a first-team All-American as a kick returner at Marshall last season, finishing second in the country with a 30.7 yards-per-return average. He tied for the FBS lead with two kick return touchdowns in 2023.
Evans had a breakout season in 2023 before being sidelined with an injury. He played in eight games as a junior, starting seven, and ended the season as the team’s top receiving target, averaging 52.8 yards per game. Through those eight games, Evans totaled 29 receptions for 422 yards and a touchdown during the season, averaging 14.6 yards per catch.
