Cross first began his U Sports football career with the Regina Rams in 2017.[1][2] After a strong performance in training camp, he started at sam linebacker for the Rams in their season opener and played in all eight regular season games as a rookie. He led the team in tackles with 33 and had 26 assisted tackles, a sack, an interception, and a forced fumble.[1] He also had six solo tackles and two assisted tackles in the team's Canada West Semi-final loss to UBC.[1] At the end of the season, he was named a U Sports Second Team All-Canadian and won the Peter Gorman Trophy as U Sports football's rookie of the year.[3] However, the awards were removed on June 20, 2018, after it was confirmed that he had failed a drug test due to testing positive for cannabis (a banned substance at the time).[3] He was also given a two-month suspension and was not eligible to return to play until January 4, 2019 (long after the 2018 season would have concluded).[4]
Okanagan Sun
Cross joined the Okanagan Sun of the Canadian Junior Football League for the 2018 season.[5][6] He played in four games where he had eight tackles, two assisted tackles, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.[7]
Cross was drafted in the first round, ninth overall, by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2021 CFL Draft and signed with the team on May 21, 2021.[10] He made the team's active roster following training camp in 2021 and played in his first career professional game on August 5, 2021, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, where he recorded two special teams tackles.[2] Cross played in 12 regular season games where he had two defensive tackles and led the team in special teams tackles with 17.[2] He also played in his first playoff game that year, in the East Semi-Final against the Montreal Alouettes, where he had one special teams tackle.[2]
