Safety Nick Cross was the youngest player in the 2022 NFL Draft class, but that didn’t stop the Indianapolis Colts from taking him in the third round. It didn’t stop him from immediately earning a starting spot either.
Cross made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Houston Texans, one day after turning 21. He started again the next week, but was only used sparingly after that. The former Maryland Terrapin didn’t get a chance to play consistently on defense again until the final five games of last season.
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He was reinserted into the starting lineup this season and has repaid the Colts’ coaching staff for giving him another chance. Through three weeks, he is the NFL’s leading tackler with 39, which ties his career high set last season. Cross has recorded double-digit tackles in all three games for the 1-2 Colts, including 10 in the team’s win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. He also broke up a pass that was then intercepted by teammate Jaylon Jones.
"Look at the athleticism of Jaylon Jones." – @JasonMcCourty pic.twitter.com/ZdF0uma2tE
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Both Cross and the Colts have acknowledged that he was probably not quite ready to play such a big role as a rookie.
“It can definitely be a challenge, going away from home at 20 years old, coming here and being thrust into a room full of grown men,” Cross told the Indy Star about his 2022 season. “Even though it’s a dream you’ve had for a long time, you don’t know all the ins and outs, the day-in and day-out. You have to keep your head on straight and make sure you follow a strong routine and follow a couple of the vets in the locker room.”
One of the things Cross relied on as he waited for another opportunity was his faith in God. Each day, he put the same line at the top of his meeting notes: “Control what you can control and let God handle the rest.”
“It can definitely get hard at times. You just have to trust God,” he told the Indy Star. “Everyone has a path. Sometimes, He’s preparing you for something you don’t know about. … God blessed me with a lot of athletic ability. I just have to go out there and use it.”
Cross describes himself as a “Follower of Christ” in his bio on X and has included Bible verses in posts on Instagram.
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In his introductory press conference after getting drafted, Cross thanked God for the athleticism that was on full display in his performance at the draft combine, which featured a 4.34-second 40-yard dash time, a 37-inch vertical and a 130-inch broad jump.
“I always knew I had great athletic ability. God blessed me with athletic ability and I was just happy to be able to use it at the end of the day,” he said. “The Combine put myself further on the map. My play put me up there. But to be able to put me up there on a higher echelon was a great thing.”
When Cross was officially announced as a starting safety the week before this year’s season opener, he gave glory to God again.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “I thank God for giving me the health, strength and ability to go out there and do it.”
Up next for Indianapolis is a home matchup with the 3-0 Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. A win could move the Colts into a tie for first place in the AFC South.
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