Like it is

Aggies Garrett reason for Hogs to scramble

Texas A&M defensive lineman Myles Garrett (15) looks for the ball against UCLA during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M won 31-24 in overtime. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M defensive lineman Myles Garrett (15) looks for the ball against UCLA during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M won 31-24 in overtime. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

He listens to Dean Martin, Marvin Gaye and Anita Baker -- especially their love songs -- even before games.

He likes dinosaurs, and while the team is watching a movie, he'll sometimes slip out to the lobby and read a book.

After last season, he deleted Twitter and Instagram from his phone. Too much noise, he told his parents.

He is majoring in university studies with a concentration on global arts, and planning, design and construction in the College of Architecture.

He volunteers at a mission that feeds families in need.

But put football pads on Myles Garrett, and the Renaissance man becomes a raging bull as a defensive end for the Texas A&M Aggies.

As a true freshman, the 6-5, 260-pound sack machine set the A&M freshman record for sacks in his sixth game. His 11 sacks for the season were the most ever for an SEC freshman, topping the eight of South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney. He was named second-team All-SEC and was a consensus freshman All-American.

As a sophomore, he had 12.5 sacks and a total of 19.5 tackles for loss. He was a first-team All-American.

Already in his junior season, he has three sacks and looms -- along with senior teammate Daeshon Hall, the other defensive end who has 11.5 career sacks -- as a nightmare for the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday night in Arlington, Texas.

The Aggies move them around some, but primarily Hall will line up against Dan Skipper, who fights with all his might on every snap.

That also would mean sophomore Brian Wallace, in his first start at right tackle, would get to take on Garrett. Wallace and redshirt freshman Colton Jackson are expected to take turns trying to slow down the guy Mel Kiper has as his No. 1 pick in next year's NFL Draft.

It wouldn't be surprising to see tight end Jeremy Sprinkle over there to help.

If that isn't enough of a challenge, Aggies defensive coordinator John Chavis has multiple blitz packages. Chavis, known as one of the great defensive coordinators in college football, loves to blitz. When he's not blitzing, he's dreaming about blitzing.

A plus for the Hogs are their receivers, who are talented and experienced. Dominique Reed's speed could be a factor.

While no one is going to call quarterback Austin Allen a dual-threat, he has shown elusiveness and a willingness to run the ball fearlessly.

Teams tend to make their own luck, but if anyone is due a break it is the Hogs, who should be properly motivated after the past two games with A&M.

Two years ago, the Hogs had a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter but Kenny Hill -- yes, now the TCU quarterback -- hit them for touchdown passes of 86 and 59 yards to send it into overtime, where Hill threw for a 25-yard touchdown.

Last season, the Hogs led 21-13 in the fourth quarter, but A&M quarterback Kyle Allen threw a 63-yard pass to Josh Reynolds to set up a touchdown and two-point conversion, and the Razorbacks lost in overtime.

Which brings up the Hogs defense.

Aggies quarterback Trevor Knight has been efficient in their first three wins. He's completed passes to 13 different receivers, but the two that have to be stopped are Christian Kirk and Reynolds, who have each caught two touchdown passes.

Both are very fast and can take it to the house on any catch.

The key may be for the Razorbacks defensive line to prove the Aggies aren't the only ones who can rack and sack quarterbacks. They cannot let Knight escape: He's averaging 50 yards per game rushing.

So what this game will boil down to, as do most games, is who wins the line of scrimmage. Just slowing Myles Garrett down could be huge.

Sports on 09/22/2016

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