Film Evaluation: Jerry Cross

Penn State has found yet another oversized wide receiver to convert into a tight end at the next level in Milwaukee native Jerry Cross. A rising junior from King high school, Cross has basketball-type skills downfield to be a menace in the passing game for Big 10 safeties and linebackers. He also shows more physicality than recent players that Tyler Bowen and the Nittany Lions have signed. It’s a long way off, but Cross could be another fantastic, all-around addition to Penn State's tight end tradition.

*Important Note: Scouting notes are based on highlight videos. They should not be seen as a complete picture of the strengths and weaknesses of a prospect. As these young men are still in the early stages of their development, projections are based on potential and development.

Frame: As a 6-foot-6 sophomore, Cross towers over the competition on film. He doesn’t have a spindly frame either. He has well-developed features and long, powerful limbs. He has growth potential to become a dominant physical presence on the field early in his career if he can handle the mental aspects of college. As a rising junior, the sky feels like the limit for Cross’ physical potential.

Contested Catches: Not only does Cross have size, he uses it incredibly well in contested catch situations. He shows great concentration to catch the ball in traffic and seems to have a natural ability to elevate and pluck the ball from the sky. His vertical is impressive, as is his feel for shielding defensive backs from the catch point. While it’s obviously a highlight film, Cross seems like a natural pass catcher who doesn't fight the ball in flight. He also does a great job adjusting to poorly thrown balls. If he can continue to learn how to work through contact and play with physicality at the catch point, he’ll be a dangerous red zone and middle of the field target for whomever is under center for the Nittany Lions in a few years.

Physicality: There isn’t much concern about Cross being able to grow into the tight end position from a physical standpoint. It's clear that Cross doesn't mind contact. He plays through defenders on routes and seems more than willing to lower his shoulder with the ball in his hands. There are also a select number of plays on his freshman tape where he lines up in-line at tight end. He has the natural flexibility to get into a good stance and fired out quickly to get downfield. With time and training, Cross could develop into an all-around tight end.

Route Running: Cross’ tape is surprisingly monotone when it comes to the type of plays that are included. The majority of his highlights are jump balls either in the middle of the field or in the end zone. While that is a very valuable skill, it takes a special connection with a quarterback for him to trust that the receiver will come down with the ball even when he’s covered. At 6-6, 220 pounds and still growing, Cross will have to be careful to not skew too far towards this skill and still work on his route precision, timing and technique. Those that have seen Cross this summer say he's working hard on his routes and has impressed. That's a positive sign.

Agility: Going along with that, most of the routes on his film are linear in nature. Now if you were a high school coach and you had a receiver that was six inches taller than every player he faced, plus could jump like Cross, you’d throw a lot of those balls, too. For most tight ends, this isn’t a problem because their routes are a bit simpler than a receiver. As he grows physically and adds mass over time, Cross will have to work to maintain his lateral agility and movement skills.

Burst: It seems like Cross is destined to be a big man by the end of his growth pattern. It’s not really a worry about whether or not he’ll grow into the tight end role, but more that he can still move like a wideout when he gets there. Long speed doesn’t seem like much of an issue as Cross is a long strider and can chew up ground when he’s in the open field. Sources close to Penn State say he runs around a 4.7-second 40-yard dash currently. That's good. The issue is moving at the line. Focusing on his starts and being as mechanically efficient as possible will be the key to making him a dangerous threat.

Tight End: There is no real doubt that Cross will continue to grow and add muscle to his frame over time. He’s already surpassing 220 pounds heading into his junior year of high school. He reportedly puts up some solid numbers already, too, bench pressing over 245 pounds, squatting over 400 and hang cleaning 280. Those are good numbers for a player his age. That, coupled with his skill set, make him an easy player to project. He’ll have to work on some areas of his game, but with time, there is a clear path to Cross becoming an all-around threat at the tight end position.

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