Who needs a conference? Notre Dame has been part of the blueblood conversation for generations thanks to the program’s 11 claimed national championships. The most recent of which came in 1988, so the Fighting Irish have yet to join the ranks of bluebloods who have won a national title on the field rather than just in the polls.
Year in and year out, Notre Dame has been home to some of the top talents in all of college football. With the Marcus Freeman era entering year three, there are still College Football Playoff expectations in South Bend. Despite the fact that the Fighting Irish’s ceiling in terms of seeding is the 5 seed, the hype is still palpable.
Athlon Sports Names 5 Notre Dame Players as Pre-Season All-Americans
Howard Cross III, Defensive Lineman (1st Team)
![Major College Football Publication Tabs 5 Notre Dame Players as Pre-Season All-Americans 1 notre dame howard cross III](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_21541974_168400545_lowres-1024x683.jpg)
Last year, Howard Cross III was named to a handful of Second-Team All-American teams and he’s expected to take another step forward this year. He took a couple of seasons to get his feet wet. In his first two years, Cross appeared in 15 games (11 in 2020) and accounted for 20 tackles.
He took a step forward in 2021 and 2022 as a regular member of the defensive line. In those years, Cross amassed 55 tackles, seven TFLs, five sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup. He’s coming off his best season, hence the All-American honors. Last year, Cross went off for 66 tackles, seven TFLs, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and two pass breakups.
Jayden Harrison, Kick Returner (1st Team)
![Major College Football Publication Tabs 5 Notre Dame Players as Pre-Season All-Americans 2 notre dame jayden harrison](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_22877397_168400545_lowres-1024x926.jpg)
Jayden Harrison is a new face to the Notre Dame roster. He’s heading into 2024 and about to suit up for his third team in six years. Initially, Harrison got his feet wet at Vanderbilt where he turned eight catches into 20 yards and returned seven kicks for 20.1 yards per return.
Then, he took his talents to Marshall. In his first two seasons with The Herd, Harrison was a formidable weapon. He hauled in 35 passes for 349 yards and three scores. On special teams, Harrison returned 30 kicks at 22.5 yards a pop. He took a kick back for a score in 2021.
Last season, Harrison was named to three All-American First Teams after his break out. As a receiver, he had a modest season, posting 410 yards and a touchdown off 28 receptions. His real impact was as a kick returner as he turned 23 kicks into 705 yards and two touchdowns. He and Jadarian Price will make a formidable one-two punch in kick return.
Benjamin Morrison, Cornerback (2nd Team)
![Major College Football Publication Tabs 5 Notre Dame Players as Pre-Season All-Americans 3 notre dame benjamin morrison](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_21490707_168400545_lowres-1024x682.webp)
The cornerback crop is so loaded in 2024 that a player of Benjamin Morrison‘s caliber is considered a Second-Team All-American.
Morrison’s freshman season was one for the record books. He burst onto the scene with 33 tackles, a TFL, four pass breakups, a ridiculous six interceptions, and one was returned for a touchdown. He was named a freshman All-American by On3, College Football News, Pro Football Focus, The Athletic, and 247Sports.
Offenses seemed to wise up to Morrison a bit last year but he still turned in 33 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 10 pass breakups, and three interceptions. Next year’s NFL Draft is going to have a number of elite corners selected in the first round, Morrison included.
Xavier Watts, Safety (2nd Team)
![Major College Football Publication Tabs 5 Notre Dame Players as Pre-Season All-Americans 4 notre dame xavier watts](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_21653667_168400545_lowres-1024x683.jpg)
In the same boat as Morrison, Xavier Watts has just as much an argument to be a First-Team All-American.
In all reality, is there more to be said about Watts? He was a unanimous First-Team All-American last year and took home the prestigious Bednarik Award as the top defensive player in the nation. He’s coming off a year where he tallied 52 tackles, three TFLs, half of a sack, four pass breakups, a forced fumble, a scoop-and-score, and an incredible seven interceptions.
Watts will end the season as one of the top safeties in the nation yet again.
Mitchell Evans, Tight End (3rd Team)
![Major College Football Publication Tabs 5 Notre Dame Players as Pre-Season All-Americans 5 notre dame mitchell evans](https://gridironheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_21492537_168400545_lowres-1024x682.webp)
Over the last six NFL Drafts, five Notre Dame tight ends hear their name called. If not for Iowa, the Fighting Irish would have their case to be TEU with the likes of Michael Mayer, Tommy Tremble, and Cole Kmet. Next man up seems to be Mitchell Evans.
For his first two years, Evans learned under Mayer and totaled just 60 yards and one touchdown off five receptions. Last year, he was unleashed. Evans ended the season as the second-leading receiver with 422 yards and one touchdown off 29 receptions.
With a perceived step forward in the offense in 2024, expect Evans to have a career year and find himself on these lists come December.