Two Sundays ago, Myles Garrett had his wisdom teeth removed. Normally, people would take a few days off from work or school to rest. Myles Garrett, on the other hand, got out on the field and recorded 3.5 sacks and seven tackles against Nevada despite experiencing jaw pain and muscle cramps.

“[The dentist] saw me and said, ‘It could be bad for you if you keep it in,’” Garrett said. “So we got it out right away, and I did what I did on the field. It was hurting. But I came here to play football and have fun. I can’t let something like that stop me.”

Senior defensive lineman Julien Obioha said he had some fun with coach Price regarding Garrett’s teeth.

“Coach Price said the same thing happened to him in the 80s, and he said the same day he got his wisdom teeth pulled he practiced, so he let Myles know he wasn’t going to miss a game,” Obioha said. “I remember joking with him saying, ‘You remember that story coach Price told us? You’re not going to miss any days of practice.’ It was really funny.”

Garrett has become the focal point of the Aggie defense and leads the nation in sacks with 5.5. Defensive coordinator John Chavis praised Garrett at this week’s news conference.

“He’s a talented young man, he’s a great young man. As good of a player as he is, I’d have to say, he’s an even better person,” Chavis said. “The thing where Myles has really grown is his leadership ability, and he should be. You don’t have to talk to be a great leader, you have to be about your work and get it done.”

In his fifth start of the season last year, Garrett broke Jadeveon Clowney’s rookie sack record of 8 with 11.5 sacks. As a true freshman, he was a Consensus 2014 Freshman All-American, Freshman All-SEC selection and chosen to the All-SEC second team. 

This preseason, the Arlington Martin product was named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award for college player of the year and for the Chuck Bednarik Award for college defensive player of the year. His partner in crime and fellow defensive end, Daeshon Hall, has experienced firsthand the kind of player Garrett is.

“Myles is a good player, probably one of the best defensive ends in the country,” Hall said. “I’m happy for my man and whatever accolades he gets.” 

Two of Garrett’s sacks against Nevada in A&M’s 44-27 win were on back-to-back plays in a pivotal moment of the game. The consecutive plays prevented a Nevada comeback, but linebacker Otaro Alaka didn’t seem surprised.

“It wasn’t a shock to me,” Alaka said. “He’s a great player and he’s going to continue to do stuff like that. Like coach Chavis said, I think we might have the best defensive ends in the nation.”

Alaka went on to talk about how not only do Garrett’s sacks help the defense, but his presence on the field alone helps open up holes for others on defense to make plays.

“Myles is just a ridiculous player. He’s just a really really really good talent and he always impacts the game no matter what,” Alaka said. “Say he’ll have a sackless game because he got triple teamed, [Daeshon Hall] or [Zaycoven Henderson] will get the sack so he’s always [making a difference] in the game.”

Even though Garrett has become nationally recognized by many and is easy to spot on campus with his 6-foot-5, 260-pound frame, he said he stays humble.

“I’m no different than anybody else,” Garrett said. “I ride my bike to class, get my work done, ride back, go to practice.”

Despite often being subject to triple teams by the opposing defenses, Garrett said he is always looking to have a productive day on the field and can have no excuses.

“It doesn’t really bother me if I can’t get a sack,” Garrett said. “I’ll just have to affect the game in another way. That means TFLs, batting down balls, running to a ball if it gets upfield. I’ll just have to affect the game some other way.” 

Garrett said he will look to continue his impressive sack streak and increased role as a team leader this week in A&M’s SEC opener against Arkansas, despite his aching jaw.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m tired or if I’m more rested, or if I feel the same,” Garrett said. “I have to increase my level of performance.”