Aggies Star Myles Garrett Wins AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year
Texas A&M Aggies legend and Cleveland Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday night by the Associated Press.
Garrett won the award of Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher TJ Watt, and Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby.
Heading into the NFL Honors Show, Garrett was the odds-on favorite to bring home the award.
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The first overall pick of the 2017 draft continued to showcase his game-wrecking abilities this season, amassing a total of 42 combined tackles, with an impressive 14 sacks. In the initial 10 weeks, Garrett led the NFL with 13 sacks before adding just one more over the Browns' final seven games.
Despite a decline in sacks, Garrett remained a formidable presence on the defensive line, concluding the season with 30 quarterback hits and 37 total pressures. PFF highlights that Garrett secured the highest pass rush win rate (27 percent) in the NFL for the past season.
Garrett was awarded the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) Defensive Player of the Year but is still waiting on AP's NFL honor.
The PFWA has presented this award since 1992, while the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year Award, established in 1971, is considered the official award for the NFL.
Garrett was one of two Aggies to be nominated on Thursday, alongside Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who was up for the AP Coach of the Year Award.