NEWARK --
For his next trick, Ben Cross will play defensive tackle.
And why not? Since he arrived on the University of Delaware
campus in the fall of 2000, Cross has encountered one challenge
after another and proved to be up to each task.
He has compiled a 3.93 grade-point average in civil engineering,
one of UD's most demanding and exclusive majors. He has twice
- in 2001 and 2003 - won the football team's summer conditioning
competition, a test of strength, speed and agility.
And on the football field, he has gone from being a Wing-T
halfback, to the lone back in a spread, to outside linebacker, to
defensive end, all the while being a special teams standout.
And there he was Wednesday night, in Delaware's final major
scrimmage of preseason camp, lining up at defensive tackle.
Cross happens to be 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds, half a foot shorter
and as much as 100 pounds lighter than some of the offensive linemen
he'll encounter.
"We asked him if he'd like to play tackle," said Rob Neviaser,
who coaches the Hens' defensive line. "He said, 'I'll give it a
shot.' That's what he always says - 'I'll give it a shot.'
"You can't find enough kids like that. You can't find many kids
with his stature you could put on the defensive front."
More often than not, Cross' shot is his best. This is his first
season as a defensive end. He's gotten a few plays at tackle
recently, and may again after the season begins Sept. 6 against The
Citadel.
"Ben Diesel, that's what I call him, is amazing,'' said Mike
Adams, Delaware's senior strong safety and co-captain. "I've never
seen anybody that little with such a big heart. His heart is bigger
than him. He benched 400 pounds. He's got a 41-inch vertical jump.
He's battling with 300-pound guys down there. Those are things you
won't see Mike Adams doing. I tip my hat to him. He's got my utmost
respect."
Cross isn't seeking such plaudits. He's just doing his thing.
"I kind of like the challenge of going up against bigger guys,
seeing if I can beat them," Cross said. "I was a little hesitant at
first. I thought I was way too small. I figure if the coaches are
putting me there, then they see something and have some kind of
confidence in me."
So there he is and there he'll stay, with the possible exception
of a few downs as a blocker if the Hens use a two-back set on
offense.
Cross came to Delaware from Loudoun Valley High in Hamilton, Va.,
having rushed for 4,138 yards in a Wing-T offense also used by
Delaware. He redshirted as a Delaware freshman, then saw spot duty
with one start, against Georgia Southern, in 2001.
Tubby Raymond's retirement as coach meant out with the Wing-T and
in with new coach K.C. Keeler's preferred spread scheme, which
utilizes one back. After playing there in the spring, Cross was
switched to outside linebacker, where he started the 2002 season
opener, also against Georgia Southern. Most of his duty came on
special teams.
Now the need is on the defensive front, which has been plagued by
injuries. Cross has all the requisite skills, Neviaser said, such as
strength, toughness, smarts and "a great motor." All that's missing
is the size.
"I just figure I'm a lot quicker than they [offensive linemen]
are, so get off the ball on them, stay low and drive them back,"
Cross said. "I expect the first time I line up in a game I'll be
laughed at by the offensive tackle."
Cross just hopes the last laugh is his.
"He's so strong," Keeler said. "The great thing was, when we
decided to give him some shots at tackle, Ben goes 'Tackle? OK.' It
was like, 'You guys are crazy. I can do it, but you guys are crazy.'
"Here's a kid who could have ended up somewhere else mentally, in
terms of 'They don't want me. I can't find a spot.' He just keeps on
impressing and saying 'I'm going to help this team, somehow, some
way.' "
Hen scratch
The Hens will practice again today and Friday ... Former Hens
Jamin Elliott (Bears) and Keith Burnell (Packers) were cut by their
NFL teams Tuesday ... Brad Shushman kicked 29- and 47-yard field
goals but missed a pair of 40-yarders from the hashmarks Wednesday.
One hit the upright ... the lone touchdown was Ryan Carty's 5-yard
toss to Lawrence Jones ... Though many key players were rested
during Wednesday's scrimmage because of injury, Keeler doesn't
expect any of them to miss the opener.
Reach Kevin Tresolini at 324-2807 or mailto:ktresolini@delawareonline.com
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