Texas A&M freshman defensive end Myles Garrett broke the SEC record for sacks by a freshman Saturday, previously held by South Carolina star and Houston Texans rookie Jadeveon Clowney.
Garrett came around the left edge of Louisiana-Monroe's pass protection to drop Warhawks quarterback Pete Thomas for a 3-yard loss in the first quarter, giving him 8.5 sacks on the year. Clowney had eight sacks as a freshman in 2011.
But that was just the start of what became a monstrous performance for Garrett, who finished the day with three sacks to run his season total to 10.5. With three games remaining on TAMU's regular-season schedule, Garrett has a chance to bury the record emphatically in games against Auburn, Missouri and LSU. While Texas A&M's defensive woes from last season have largely continued, Garrett and fellow freshman Armani Watts, a safety, have been two of the SEC's top defensive newcomers and figure to anchor whatever defensive improvements A&M makes in the coming years. Watts came up with an interception against the Warhawks, his second of the season.
Like Clowney, Garrett (6-5, 255 pounds) has made an immediate impact as a true freshman, rather than redshirting in his first SEC season. Entering the game, Garrett ranked tied for ninth in the nation in sacks at 7.5, behind such elite pass rushers as Clemson's Vic Beasley, Missouri's Shane Ray and Washington's Hau'oli Kikaha.
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