Notre Dame defensive lineman Howard Cross cracked a smile when he was asked about Washington Commanders defensive end and former seventh-round pick Javontae Jean-Baptiste.
"Javontae was one of my really close friends," Cross said. "He's a great player [who brought] great physicality. Brought a lot of energy."
Jean-Baptiste didn't spend much time with the Fighting Irish. He transferred there after five seasons at Ohio State, where he recorded eight sacks and 53 tackles in 45 games. He took a serious jump in production once he took his skills to St. Joseph, Indiana, though, amassing 49 tackles -- 16 more than he got in his previous two seasons combined -- and five sacks. Oh, and he recorded a team-best 11 tackles for loss.
Jean-Baptiste's former teammates have fond memories of him, not just for his impact on the field but also for how he connected with them off of it.
"He just knew how to hype everybody up and stuff like that," Cross said.
Baptiste fit many of the qualities the Commanders value when looking for talent in the draft. He's long and athletic, both of which were highlighted by draft analysts before he was taken by the Commanders on Day 3 and helped him shed blockers at Notre Dame. What made him stand out even more to Washington's staff was how much he liked football, and that came through clearly when they called to inform him of their decision.
"He was very, very excited and very emotional and really excited to add the length, the athleticism, the pass rush upside," said Commanders assistant general manager Lance Newmark.
None of that should be a surprise to his former Notre Dame teammate. He was an instant fit in the position group, according to defensive tackle Riley Mills, because of his personality and production. It didn't take long for Mills to see that Jean-Baptiste was "a freak."
"His get-off was insane, and he was a really smart player," Mills said. "He knew exactly, technique-wise, what to do, and he'd been coached really well."
Jean-Baptiste also had a way of relating to his teammates. It helped him become a leader for Notre Dame's younger players, Mills said, and even players like him who were mainstays of the program. His new teammates liked him so much that he was voted as a team captain for Notre Dame's matchup against Oregon State. Jean-Baptiste finished the 40-8 victory with two tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.
What Cross remembers most about Jean-Baptiste, though, is his ability to motivate players around him.
"He's just a hype man," Cross said. "I feel like any time needs that, and I feel like that's why he's succeeding right now."
Jean-Baptiste showed potential during the Commanders training camp with a sack against the Miami Dolphins, which head coach Dan Quinn said was "the best version of him" up to that point. He got some action on special teams during the regular season but also got 195 defensive snaps, recording 13 tackles, two quarterback hits and a sack.
Jean-Baptiste's teammates had high hopes for him when he joined the NFL. So far, he's delivered and lived up to their expectations.
"We got out there and he was someone who...dominated," Mills said of Jean-Baptiste's time with the Fighting Irish. "He went out there and played really well. And you obviously see it translated this year."
