WATCH: Notre Dame fall camp preview with Hyde and Singer
In a weekly YouTube live show, Blue & Gold’s Tim Hyde and Mike Singer discuss and react to the latest news and notes in the world of Notre Dame football and recruiting.
The guys react to recent news that the college football rosters will expand to 105 scholarship players in the future, the BGI top 25 most important players list and preview Notre Dame fall camp. What are Hyde’s five fall camp storylines? What does he think about the biggest position battles on the Irish roster?
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Trio of Notre Dame football players earn recognition on regarded award watch lists
On Tuesday, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) All-America committee each added a pair of Notre Dame football players to their two respective watch lists: the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy.
The Nagurski Trophy recognized safety Xavier Watts and defensive lineman Howard Cross III as one of 75 candidates to take national defensive players of the year award. The Outland Trophy, which honors the top interior lineman in college football, named Cross and Watts to their 75-man list.
Watts is the reigning Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner. After an outstanding 2023 campaign, Watts joined former Fighting Irish linebacker Manti Te’o (2012) as the only Notre Dame player to win the award. Former Northwestern linebacker Pat Fitzgerald and Alabama linebacker Will Anderson are the only players to repeat as winners. The award began in 1993.
Watts was a unanimous All-American in 2023, with the help of his nation-tying seven interceptions. He also had 52 tackles (30 solo), 3 for loss and 4 pass breakups.
Cross or Mills looks to become the first Notre Dame defensive lineman to claim the Outland Trophy since defensive end Ross Browner in 1976. Offensive tackle George Connor and guard Bill Fischer won the award in 1946 and 1948, respectively. Irish left tackle Joe Alt was a finalist for the award last year.
Cross III is the only returning All-American on the Outland Trophy watch list. He earned earned second-team All-America honors from FWAA, Walter Camp, the Associated Press and The Sporting News in 2023. His 66 tackles last season finished second among all Power 5 front-four defensive linemen.
Mills started all 13 games in 2023 and registered 47 tackles (22 solo), 5.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks and 4 quarterback hurries. In the turnover department, he recovered a pair of fumbles. Pro Football Focus named him and Cross two of the 10 best returning defensive tackles in 2024.
